Surname Bertlein - Meaning and Origin
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Bertlein: What does the surname Bertlein mean?
The German surname Bertlein is derived from the word "bert," which means "bright," and "lein," which is a diminutive form of the word "lein," meaning "small" or "little." Together, Bertlein translates to "little bright one." In Middle High German, the term Bertlein was used as an affectionate nickname for a person with a bright and cheery character.
Bertlein is a common surname in southern Germany, particularly in the state of Bavaria, and beyond. It is believed to be an occupational name, referring to professions such as hardware smith or blacksmith from the Middle Ages. In more recent times, it has come to refer to a profession in metalworking and engineering, though there is no longer a direct correlation to any particular profession.
The surname Bertlein is also linked to Jewish customs, with some family lines tracing their roots to Jewish refugees who adopted it upon their emigration from Germany. In many cases, the combination of “bert” and “lein” were an effort to distinguish themselves from those with the traditional Jewish name of Benjamin.
Due to its popularity, the surname Bertlein is found among several nationalities, though it is most closely associated with German heritage. Given its various local and cultural interpretations, Bertlein is a notable surname with a long and distinguished history.
Order DNA origin analysisBertlein: Where does the name Bertlein come from?
The last name Bertlein is commonly found in modern day Germany, although some families using the name have migrated abroad. The family name is derived from several German locations such as Bergsdorf and Bergholz.
The name can be found most commonly in the north states of Germany such as the Berlin area. Its spelling in various versions is found in cities like Münster, Aachen, Remscheid and Dortmund.
Bertlein is also present in other parts of Germany such as Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein and Bavaria. Furthermore, the name is seen in other European countries such as Austria, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland and the Scandinavian nations.
In the United States, Bertlein is mainly found in the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota by the descendants of the German immigrants who came over in the 19th century. It is also popularly found in Canada's Alberta and British Columbia provinces.
The Bertlein name has been present in the United States and Canada since the late 1800s, some of the most common occupations for those bearing the surname included blacksmiths, farmers, brewers, miners and general laborers.
Today, there appears to be a growing international presence for the Bertlein family. For this reason, we can assume that it will continue to remain a popular surname moving forward.
Variations of the surname Bertlein
The surname Bertlein is an ancient German name dating back to the 12th century AD. In the old days, a patronymic surname was formed by adding the suffix ‘-lein’ to a given name, and one such instance is the name Bertlein. Thus, it can be assumed that the surname originated from the German personal name Berthold, which is derived from the Germanic elements ‘berht’, meaning ‘bright’, and ‘bold’, meaning ‘bold’ or ‘brave’.
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Bertlein are as follows:
variants: Bertele, Bertelein, Bertell, Bertelli, Beretle, Beretlein, Beretell, Beretelli
spellings: Bertleyn, Bertelyn, Bertlyne, Bertelyne
surnames: Bertle, Bertel, Bertele, Bertell, Bertelli, Berteleine, Bertelyn, Bertelen, Berteline, Bertellin, Bertlin, Bertlyn, Bertlan, Bertlon, Bertliening, Bertlung, Bertoli, Bertolini, Birtlin, Birtlien, Birtling, Birtlyne, Birtlyning, Birtolini and Bertolino.
The surname Bertlein is still a popular family name in Germany and other countries today, and it is a testament to its long standing history of origin in the region.
Famous people with the name Bertlein
- Hans Bertlein (1888-1956): a German ornithologist who wrote about the ecology of birds and collected data on the behaviour of different species.
- Mabel Bertlein (1876-1946): a Canadian nurse and social reformer who was a leading figure in the campaign to save unmarried mothers from social ostracism.
- Frank E. Bertlein (1881-1964): a German architect who designed many grand public buildings in the Frankfurt area.
- Robert Bertlein (1882-1961): an American hammer thrower and Olympic silver medalist who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.
- William Bertlein (1891-1958): a British chemist and physicist who was a Fellow of the Royal Society and conducted pioneering research in atomic structure.
- Griffith Hartley Bertlein (1900-1984): an American sculptor and painter who won the National Academy of Design's Keppel Prize in 1936.
- Julius K. Bertlein (1870-1960): a Swiss artist who worked in the traditional crafts of wood carving, carving ivory and jewelry engraving.
- Emma Bertlein (1887-1962): an Australian naturalist and writer who was an authority on ferns and mosses.
- Alfred ‘Al’ Bertlein (1894-1970): an American baseball player who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds teams in the 1920s.
- Carl Bertlein (1909-1996): a German graphic artist and book illustrator who created a range of illustrations for children's books.