masc. proper name, from German (the French form is Aubert), from Old High German Adalbert, literally "noble-bright," from Old High German adal "noble family," from Proto-Germanic *athala- (see atheling) + second element is from Proto-Germanic *berhta- "bright," from PIE root *bhereg- "to shine; bright, white."
The compound is cognate with Old English Æþelbeorht (which sometimes was metathesized as Æþelbriht, hence the surname Albright). As a kind of watch chain, from 1861 (see Prince Albert).