Surname Barthen - Meaning and Origin
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Barthen: What does the surname Barthen mean?
The German surname Barthen is derived from the Old German term "bartho" meaning "bright". It is thought to have originally been a nickname for someone who was particularly bright or sharp-witted. The earliest recorded reference to this family name is found in the 1100s, in the city of Mainz. It was originally a topographical name for someone from an area with abundant birch trees. The spelling variations (Barten, Berthon, Barthel, Barthella, and Barthon) all refer to the same surname.
The surname Barthen is most commonly found in southwestern Germany, but is also used in parts of the Netherlands and Belgium. During the 16th - 18th centuries, many people from this region emigrated to America. This subsequently spread the family name to the US, where today it is mostly concentrated in the states between New York and Pennsylvania.
Today, the Barthen name is still quite common among German speaking populations, and it is also becoming increasingly popular across other parts of the world, especially in North America. Although Barthen may not appear to carry a particularly significant meaning, it is a reminder that this family once took pride in the qualities of great sharpness and brightness.
Order DNA origin analysisBarthen: Where does the name Barthen come from?
The surname Barthen is not particularly common today; it is most commonly seen in parts of the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands. Emigration from other parts of Europe, especially from Germany and Central Europe, may explain why this surname is found in so many countries.
In the United States, the name is most commonly found in the states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Nebraska, indicating a possible migration from other states or countries across North America. In Canada, the surname is rather scattered and can be found in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan.
In Australia, the surname derives mostly from German immigrants and is most likely found in the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales. Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, there are also a significant number of people bearing the surname.
Despite its scattered locations, the name Barthen is not particularly common in any country. Its population density of 0.03 people per km² indicates a low number of people with that last name. Additionally, it doesn't appear in the top 1000 most common surnames for the United States, Canada, Australia, or the Netherlands.
Variations of the surname Barthen
The surname Barthen has a variety of different spelling variants, including Barth, Barthe, Barthenn, Barthelm, Bartel, Bartol, Bartoloni, Bartolini, Bartolomei, Bartos, Bartosik, Bartyzel, Berth, Bertha, Bertham, Berthel, Berthiel, Berthol, Berthold, Bertholt, and Bartholdi, as well as multiple other variants and patronymic surnames.
The surname is of German origin, and derived from the root of the pre-seventh-century word, 'bart', meaning 'bright'. The surname is found among those with early links to Lombardy in northern Italy, where it first appears in records from the mid-1200s.
One of the earliest records of the surname was an Ulric Bartel found mentioned in the city of Hamburg in 1258. In 1294, Albert Bartolini was documented in the town of Valle di Valdana on the Italian island of Elba. In 1445, Sigismondo Berthold was noted in the city of Milan. Later records show Jacobus Bartolus was a resident of Bochnia in the Kingdom of Poland in 1512.
The surname is found in many parts of North America, and is especially predominant in the United States. Contemporary bearers of the name will find their surnames spelled differently by multiple generations in the same family, and is a clear indication that the family name has its roots in Barthen.
Famous people with the name Barthen
- Paul Barthen: German actor and theatre director.
- Robert Barthen: German actor and composer of cabaret and operettas.
- Joe Barthen: American college football player from Boston college.
- Mark Barthen: German former football goalkeeper.
- Andreas Barthen: Germany's first professor of tourism.
- Heiner Barthen: German political scientist and professor.
- John Barthen: American former Olympic swimmer.
- Viktor Barthen: Austrian footballer and manager.
- Benjamin Barthen: German footballer and manager.
- Dieter Barthen: German entrepreneur and inventor.
- Frank Barthen: German actor and television presenter.
- Friedrich Barthen: German painter and art historian.
- Sabine Barthen: German photographer and film director.
- Willy Barthen: German professional footballer.
- Laura Barthen: German former figure skater.
- Tim Barthen: German male swimmer.
- Heinz Barthen: German ice hockey player.
- Carsten Barthen: German sailor and Olympic bronze medalist.