This aristocratic French surname, which derives from an ancient Frank personal name, is ennobled as the Counts of Lussan, in Langedoc. In its original form, the name was a compound consisting of the elements "alda", meaning old, and "berht", brilliant or literally "the old bright one", presumably a nickname for an experienced and sagacious warrior or chief. The origination was pre 12th Century, the precise date being unknown. The spelling forms are Audibert, Audebert and Audivert, the latter being a Gascon dialectal transposition of the 16th Century. There have been at least eight Coats of Arms granted to nameholders, the principal forms being either a gold lion rampant regardant on a red field (Langedoc), or two golden halberds in pale, overall a gold fess, again on a red field (Angoumois). Recordings of the name include: Count Jean D'Audibert, a christening witness at Gard, Lussan, on June 1st 1675, whilst on July 27th 1692, Jeanne Audebert married Jean Baptiste Boutin at Notre Dame de Quebec, Canada. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Pierre D'Audibert, which was dated March 31st 1630, baptised at Bargemon, Var, France, during the reign of King Louis X111 of France, 1610 - 1643. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.