Surname Berttram - Meaning and Origin
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Berttram: What does the surname Berttram mean?
The surname Bertram is derived from the Germanic given name Bertram, which itself is derived from the Old High German elements "beraht" meaning 'bright' and "hramn" meaning 'raven'. The first record of the use of the name appears in the 8th century in the Bavarian Records of the Abbey of Fulda.
The given name Bertram was often bestowed onto younger sons in medieval Europe in order to separate them from their older brothers – the popularity of the name is likely linked to the romantic medieval legend of Sir Bertram of Rousillon, a brave knight who fights on behalf of his lady-love, the Countess of Dreux. This legend is documented in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Squire's Tale.
The surname has long been common in Bavaria, as well as in Southern Germany and Austria. In modern times, the surname Bertram has become popular among English-speaking countries as more people have adopted the name as a variant of Bartram.
Today, the surname is common in many countries, particularly in America, Germany, Austria, Denmark, France and Scotland. In the United States, the Bertram surname was ranked at #2,312 of all surnames in the 1990 Census report. In North America, the spelling variations of the name include Bertrum, Bertrame, Bertrem, Bertran, Bertramm, Bartram and Bertran.
Order DNA origin analysisBerttram: Where does the name Berttram come from?
The last name Bertram is most commonly found in Germany, where it is the 98th most common surname. It is also well-established in the UK, especially in certain areas of Scotland, where it is considered to be the 81st most popular surname.
In addition, there are several countries around the world where the surname is still in use today, albeit in much smaller numbers. These include South Africa, Zimbabwe, Canada, and the United States. In fact, the last name is ranked as the 2589th most common surname in the US.
The surname has a rich and varied heritage, with some sources suggesting that it could be derived from the German phrase, “ber bolero,” meaning “bear-like shield.”
It is also possible that the name was taken on by one of the Germanic tribes that invaded Britain and Gaul during the fifth century, as it appears in British records from as early as the 13th century. Bertrams are now scattered across Europe and North America, having journeyed either by choice or through wide-scale political and economic upheaval.
Today, the name Bertram remains as a reminder of the strong Germanic heritage that remains a part of everyday life in many parts of Europe and North America.
Variations of the surname Berttram
The surname Bertram is a Germanic and Old English name derived from a combination of two separate words. The first part, “beraht” which means “bright” and the second part “ram” which means “raven” or “raven-like,” together resulting in the literal meaning of “bright raven.”
The variants and spellings of this surname are many and mostly depend on the country or language of origin. In German and Dutch speaking countries, the surname can be spelled as Bertram, Bertrom, Bertrem, or Bürthram. While in Anglo-Saxon countries, the surname may appear as Bertrum, Bertrem, Burrtrum, Burtrum, Bartram, Bertrom and Bertrham. It can also be seen taking the form Berton and Birtram in some French versions.
The surnames of the same origin of Bertram can be traced to Anglo-Saxon names like Bert, Beorthelm, Berthram, Bärthram, Beortram, Bereno, Berten and Berthil in Germany; Bertom, Berthon and Bartom in France; and Beerthom in Italy. Different spellings and surnames can also be found in Scotland, including Burtram, Burrtrum, Bertrim, Berthrum, Bertram, Burthrum and Birtram.
Although the actual origin of this surname is uncertain, it is likely that it appeared in multiple places throughout Europe during the Middle Ages.
Famous people with the name Berttram
- Julie Berttram, a Canadian stage, television and film actress.
- T. A. Berttram, a British author who wrote crime fiction in the mid 1900s.
- OR Berttram, a Danish sculptor, painter and drafstman.
- Kristina Berttram, an Estonian mountaineer and extreme free solo climber.
- Mikael Berttram, a Swedish film director.
- Victor Berttram, a German composer and music publisher who wrote several classical works.
- Katherine Berttram, an American ballerina and choreographer.
- Doreen Berttram, a British writer who specializes in fantasy and horror fiction.
- Gustav Berttram, a German architect who designed a wide array of buildings and monuments in the 1800s.
- Arnold Berttram, a Dutch philologist who worked on the edition of texts in Old Saxon and Old High German.