lieber

Lieber is both a German word and a surname. As a word, liefer is the comparative form of the adjective lieb, meaning dear or beloved, and it is used to express preference or affection. In everyday German, it appears in phrases such as Ich hätte lieber Kaffee, meaning I would rather have coffee. In letter writing, Lieber is used as a salutation to address a male recipient (as in Lieber Herr Schmidt); the feminine form for a female recipient is Liebe, and both forms are common in informal correspondence.

As a surname, Lieber originated in German-speaking areas and is also common among Ashkenazi Jewish communities. It is derived from the same root as the adjective lieb, reflecting an affectionate nickname that later became a family name. The name spread with German-speaking populations and Jewish diaspora communities to North America, Israel, and beyond, and it is encountered across various professions.

Notable individuals bearing Lieber have been active in fields such as science, law, arts, and politics, particularly in German-speaking regions and in communities abroad. The surname remains widely distributed and recognized in many countries due to centuries of migration and immigration.

Variants and related forms may appear in records and across languages, reflecting transliteration and regional spelling differences.