Surname Bernts - Meaning and Origin
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Bernts: What does the surname Bernts mean?
The last name Bernts is of German and Danish origin. It is a locational surname derived from the Middle Low German barne for "child" or "follower". It is thought to refer to the son of someone who lived near an area of land called a barn, or a settlement which was owned by the baron, which were often fiefs given to a vassal, or follower, of the baron.
The Bernts name is not particularly common, however there are variations in spelling, such as Berntz, Berntzen, Bernt, and Bernz. The surname is most commonly found in Germany and Denmark but also exists in other countries such as the United States.
Bernts is thought to have originated during the Middle Ages when last names became more popular. This was when people began to use the prefixes in their first and last names to denote their family, as well as where they were from. The suffix “-es” was also added to some surnames to indicate a person's relationship to someone significant, such as a father.
Overall, the last name Bernts represents someone who is from a family of vassals of a baron, and is viewed as a symbol of loyalty, honor, and respect within the community. It is also a reminder of the family’s roots and of the important people in their lives.
Order DNA origin analysisBernts: Where does the name Bernts come from?
The last name Bernts is most common today in Norway, where it is listed as the 53rd most common last name as of 2020. It is believed to have originated in Nordland and Tronderland counties in Northern Norway, and may have derived from an old Norwegian personal name, Bjorn or Berendts.
The frequency of the name in Norway was relatively low compared to other countries in the mid-1900s, but has since considerably increased. It is especially popular in the counties mentioned above, where the name is found most frequently. Most of the time, the name is spelt with an 's' at the end, but may also appear as 'Bern', 'Bernth', 'Berntsson' or 'Berntesen' depending on geographical region.
Outside Norway, the last name Bernts can also be found in Sweden, Denmark, Greenland, Canada, and the United States, albeit with considerably fewer numbers than Norway. As of 2000, there were an estimated 5,000 bearers of the last name Bernts living in the US.
The name Bernts is likely to continue to spread in the future, as Norwegians have continued to migrate to other countries since the mid-1900s.
Variations of the surname Bernts
The surnames Bernts, Barnette, Bernet, Burnet, Burnette, Bernett, and Burnitt are all variants of the same origin surname.
Derived from the Old German name Bernhard, Bernts is an occupational surname referring to someone who worked as a beekeeper. It was first recorded in Scotland in the 13th century.
The spelling 'Bernts' is most commonly used, but the other spellings— Barnette, Bernet, Burnet, Burnette, Bernett and Burnitt—all derive from the same origin.
The spellings Barnette and Burnette have a French influence, as barnêt and bernez—the French words for beekeeper—were sometimes used in place of 'Bernhard' to denote a beekeeper in early records.
The Scottish version, Bernet, is the oldest form of the name, being first recorded in the 12th century.
Burnet and Burnitt were adopted by some families based on the Middle English term for burnet, meaning a kind of plant.
Finally, the spelling Bernett was a variant popular in England.
Though the spellings of Bernts and its variants vary, they all derived from Old German and refer to a beekeeper.
Famous people with the name Bernts
- Haakon Bernts: Norwegian chef and restaurant owner
- Erwin Bernts: German politician and member of Bundestag
- Mikhail Bernts: Russian Olympic bobsledder
- Arnold Bernts: Belarusian cyclist
- Emmy Bernts: Swedish orchestra conductor
- Leslie Bernts: American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Bad Boy Boogie
- Robyn Bernts: Australian swimmer
- Bronson Bernts: Canadian Rally driver
- Francis Bernts: Welsh academic and philosopher
- Heather Bernts: American actress and writer