Surname Berntßen - Meaning and Origin
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Berntßen: What does the surname Berntßen mean?
The last name Berntßen is of German origin. It derives from the Middle High German term "bern(e)", meaning "bear", combined with the patronymic suffix "-tßen", usually meaning "son of". It is a common surname in the German-speaking parts of Europe and can also be seen in Scandinavian countries.
The earliest documentary evidence of this surname was in 1250, when a certain Bernetßen lived in Hohenlandenberg in the German state of Württemberg. During the 14th century, the name spread north-west through the Baltic region and into what is now Scandinavia.
The Berntßen family is known to have had a presence in the German state of Hesse as early as 1562. Later on, during the 18th century, some members of the Berntßen family left Germany for the United States.
Today, the last name Berntßen is still mainly found throughout Germany and the greater German-speaking world. In the United States, an estimated 1,517 people bear the name Berntßen.
As a last name, Berntßen suggests a strong and powerful individual. The combination of the terms “bear” and “son” signifies someone who is born from a line of powerful individuals, and most likely carries this strength and perseverance forward into their own life.
Order DNA origin analysisBerntßen: Where does the name Berntßen come from?
The last name Berntßen is most commonly found in parts of Northern Germany, including parts of Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Hamburg. It is also found in some regions of Denmark and Sweden, which suggests this surname has roots in Scandinavian countries.
It is likely that the surname was spread from Northern Germany and the surrounding countries by people either looking for work or as part of military campaigns. Over time, the presence of this surname in these countries would have increased, which is why it is found so commonly today.
In terms of the United States, the surname Berntßen is considerably rarer. Immigrants who came to the US from Germany in the late 19th and early 20th century may have had the surname, but no significant numbers of the family settled in the US. Those in the US with the surname are much more likely to be of recent German descent.
In terms of the current population, it is estimated that there may be around 5,000 people in the world with the surname Berntßen. This is a very small number compared to the population of other surnames, so it remains relatively uncommon.
Variations of the surname Berntßen
The surname Berntßen is of Germanic origin and has many variants and spellings, although not all are common. The variants and spellings include Berntsen, Bertzeen, Bertzen, Berhingen, Berken, Berentzen, Barntzen, Bartzen, Bartseehn, Bernts, Bentseehn, Bentzen, and Bernthsen.
Most of these variants originate by adding the common "t" ending to the surname, while it appears that some of these variants were used to make the name easier to pronounce and others might be a translation from one language to another. For example, Barntzen could be a translation of Berntßen into Low German. On the other hand, Bertzeen and Bertzen could be formed by inserting an "e" in the surname.
The surnames of a similar origin include Bartzen, Bartz, Barts, Baarts, Bartzke, Baartz, Barthe, Baertz, Baarz, Barte, Berte, Berendt, Bartman, Bernau, Berning, Bartels, Barkow, Behnke, Behrend, Berlien, Berlind, Borrensen, Berger, Bergt, Bergeson, Bergman, and Bergsma.
All of these surnames derive from early German, Dutch, and Scandinavian names. It is believed that they derive from a combination of the popular pet forms such as bern, berend, and bernd, among others. Like the surnames spelled similarly to Berntßen, these surnames also experienced a few changes in spelling as they progressed through different languages and local dialects.
Famous people with the name Berntßen
1.Hans Berntsen: Norwegian politician for the Centre Party 2.Karen Berntsen: Danish journalist and television personality 3.Svein Berntsen: Norwegian professional basketball player 4.Morten Berntsen: Norwegian Olympic rower 5.Hanna Berntsen: Norwegian author 6.Joachim Berntsen: Norwegian record producer and composer 7.Lars Berntsen: Danish actress and rock singer 8.Jørn Berntsen: Norwegian police officer and former head of the Police Security Services 9.Isak Berntsen: Norwegian footballer 10.Anne Berntsen: Norwegian actress and model