Surname Bartholdi - Meaning and Origin
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Bartholdi: What does the surname Bartholdi mean?
The last name “Bartholdi” is derived from the Dutch word “Barthoud,” which means “bearded man.” This surname is associated with the eminent French architect and sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, who is renowned for designing the iconic Statue of Liberty. The Statue of Liberty symbolizes freedom and the birth of a modern nation, embodying the principles of equality and justice.
Bartholdi was born on August 2, 1834 in Colmar, France. He attended architecture school in Strassbourg and Paris, and upon his return to Colmar he assisted the renowned architect Viollet-le-Duc with various restorations. Bartholdi's career took off when he designed numerous public monuments, one of which was the famous Lion of Belfort.
Bartholdi spent ten years working on the Statue of Liberty, making trips to the United States to discuss the project with his colleagues. When the statue was unveiled in 1886 in New York Harbor, it was a major accomplishment for Bartholdi and his team.
Bartholdi’s work and dedication to the Statue of Liberty will always be remembered. His name has been immortalized in the form of his surname, and will remain in the hearts of the American people for generations to come. Treating the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of “enlightened freedom,” it continues to provide hope to millions of people each day.
Order DNA origin analysisBartholdi: Where does the name Bartholdi come from?
The last name Bartholdi is commonly found today primarily in France, the United States, and Germany. It is believed to have originated with the Bartholdi family from Alsace, France, before the 1870s, when much of the region was annexed by Germany. In France, the name is most commonly found in the Alsace region, though it has spread to other parts of the country. In the United States, Bartholdi is widely spread throughout the country and has been present since the late 19th century, making it one of the earliest family names introduced to the US by immigrants from France and Germany. It is believed that the first Bartholdis arrived in the US during the era of the Louisiana Purchase.
In Germany, the name is found in western regions, particularly in the Rhineland-Palatinate, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg. These regions are adjacent to the German-French border, and it is likely that some members of the French Bartholdi family moved to Germany before or during the period of the Prussian annexation. While the name is not as common in Germany as it is in France or the US, some members of the German Bartholdi family still live in these regions.
Today, the last name Bartholdi is found all over the world, with concentrations in France, the US, and Germany, and most likely in other countries where French, German, and Americans have settled.
Variations of the surname Bartholdi
The surname Bartholdi is derived from the Germanic personal name Bertwald, which is composed of two elements: “beraht” (bright / famous) and “wald” (ruler). This surname is derived from the High German personal of “Bartholomaeus”, meaning ‘son of Talmai’. Throughout the centuries, the spelling of the surname has varied across cultures and languages, forming many variants and spellings.
In French-speaking countries, Bartholdi is spelled ‘Bartholdy’, while its Italian spelling is ‘Bartoldi’, and Portuguese ‘Bartolde’ or ‘Bartoldi’. The surname has taken many forms across cultures in Latin America and Spain, including "Bartolomey", "Bartoldi’", "Bartholmew", and "Bartilome".
In Germany, the surname's variants include ‘Berthold’, ‘Bertholdt’, ‘Bertold’, ‘Bertoldt’, ‘Buerthold’, ‘Buertholdt’, ‘Bertel’, ‘Bertl’ and ‘Bertell’.
In the Netherlands, the surname's Dutch variant is ‘Bartholdy’ or ‘Bertholdy’, while other variants include the Polish ‘Bartholdy’, ‘Bertholdy’, and ‘Bartholméy’, and the Danish and Norwegian ‘Bertelsen’ or ‘Berthelsen’.
The surname has also been anglicized to become Bartholomew, the English version of the name that arrived to England with the Norman conquest. A large portion of those who bear this surname descend from one of seven English branches of the Bartholomew family, which were the Bartholomes of Ashwardby, Kent and Westinch, Suffolk, the Bartholomews of Buckinghamshire, Berks, and Oxfordshire, the family of Bartholmew Cock, the Bartholomews of London, and the Bartholomews of Wherwell, Hampshire.
Other English surname spelling variants of Bartholdi include ‘Berthelet’, ‘Berthelot’, and ‘Bartomley’.
Overall, Bartholdi is a surname that has been adapted, spelled, and refashioned across cultures and countries, leading to many variants and spellings.
Famous people with the name Bartholdi
- Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi: French sculptor renowned for designing the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor.
- Jean-Charles Taillepied de Bondy: French gardener and creator of the Bartholdi flower.
- Ellie Bartholdi: English folk rock singer-songwriter.
- Bettina von Schlippenbach: German librarian who heads the Albert Bartholdi Library at the University of Würzburg.
- Aloïse Sauvy: French playwright and novelist who wrote La fille de Bartholdi.
- Ernest Santa Coloma: Spanish architect and designer who worked on the Robert Charles Bartholdi ornithopter.
- Joe Bartholdi Jr.: American internet entrepreneur who purchased “Bartholdi Cinemas” in 1980 and renamed them “Luxury Court Cinemas”.
- Jean-Claude Bartholdi: Swiss comedian and actor.
- Marcel Bartholdi: French champion ballroom dancer and choreographer.
- Bartholdi Parker: American artist and sculptor who is best known for his minimalist work.