The surname Bilderback is of German origin, and it is believed to have originated in the 16th century. The name is derived from the German words "Bilder," meaning "picture," and "Backer," meaning "baker." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who baked bread or other goods with images or designs on them.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Bilderback can be found in the German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, where it was often spelled as "Bilderbäcker" or "Bilderbecher." It is likely that the name was first adopted by families involved in the baking trade, though it is also possible that it was given as a descriptive surname to someone who worked as a painter or artist.

One of the earliest known references to the name Bilderback can be found in the town records of Nürnberg, Bavaria, which mention a "Hans Bilderbecher" in the year 1568. Another early record from the same region dates back to 1612 and mentions a "Georg Bilderbäcker" from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

As the name spread across Germany and into neighboring countries, it underwent various spelling changes. In the Netherlands, for example, it was sometimes written as "Bilderbach" or "Bilderbeek," while in parts of Switzerland it was spelled as "Bilderbeck" or "Bilderböck."

One of the earliest known bearers of the name outside of Germany was Johann Bilderbach, a Dutch painter who lived in the late 16th century and was known for his detailed still-life paintings. Another notable individual with the surname was Johann Gottfried Bilderback, a German theologian and philosopher who lived from 1683 to 1749 and wrote extensively on religious and moral topics.

In the 19th century, the name Bilderback gained some prominence in the United States, with individuals such as William Bilderback (1816-1892), a prominent farmer and landowner in Ohio, and John Bilderback (1829-1901), a Union soldier during the American Civil War.

Other notable individuals with the surname Bilderback include:

1. Charles Bilderback (1853-1921), an American businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, from 1903 to 1905.

2. Heinrich Bilderback (1869-1942), a German-born American artist known for his landscape paintings and works depicting life in the American West.

3. Edith Bilderback (1908-1997), an American educator and author who wrote several books on teaching methods and child development.

4. Walter Bilderback (1914-1991), an American actor and screenwriter best known for his work in Western films and television shows in the 1950s and 1960s.

5. Amanda Bilderback (born 1979), an American artist and sculptor whose works have been featured in numerous exhibitions and galleries across the United States.