Surname Berville - Meaning and Origin
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Berville: What does the surname Berville mean?
The last name Berville originated from the French region of Normandy. The name is derived from the French word “berg”, meaning hill. It can be assumed that the families with this name originally came from villages or settlements situated on a hill.
The earliest known records of the name Berville date back to 1456, where the name appears twice in the marriage documents of a Jean and an Almar de Berville family. In 1579, another record documents the birth of a Jacques Berville, the son of Nicolas and Diane Berville.
Berville was also a common last name among early settlers of French-speaking Canada, particularly Acadia, as well as in the area of Louisiana, which was home to many Cajuns. Records from the 1700s document Charles Berville as the first postmaster of Louisbourg, present-day Nova Scotia.
The people bearing the Berville name are very gifted in writing, singing, and inventing – traits they’ve likely inherited from generations of inventive and creative ancestors. Furthermore, records also indicate that some families with the Berville name are very successful business owners.
Overall, the Berville name has been linked to various brilliant minds, from accomplished inventors to talented musicians. Those who share the Berville name can take pride in their remarkable ancestry, whose contributions are still carried on today.
Order DNA origin analysisBerville: Where does the name Berville come from?
The last name Berville is most commonly found in France today. It is believed to have originated in the Normandy region, in the historical area of Berville-sur-Mer. The name Berville is derived from the local place name and it is likely that the surname was first taken on by someone from the area.
The highest concentration of people with the last name Berville is around Saint-Ouen-du-Tilleul, in Seine-Maritime, where there has been a Berville presence for at least 500 years. Other areas frequently associated with the name are the northwestern parts of France, near de Brest, as well as in Brittany and in Northern Africa.
In Picardy, people with the last name are thought to be directly descended from the family of Peter de Berville who gained favour with the French court in the seventeenth century.
In the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the last name has spread around the world from France, in particular to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. Notably, there are also people with the last name living in Latin America and Southwest Asia.
Variations of the surname Berville
The surname Berville can be found spelled in a variety of ways, including Berville, Bérville, Bervillé, and Berviller. These variants likely represent different linguistic origins, as the surname first appeared in records in France during the Middle Ages. The most ancient known forms of the name are Berville and Bervillel, which were used in the 12th century. The modern spelling appears to have originated in the north of France.
The Berville name is derived from the Latin word bercari, which means "to sow" or "to cultivate." It was likely used as an occupational name to denote a farmer. It also has connections to the old French berc, which has a similar meaning: "to break ground up in preparation to plant."
Derivative surnames of the same origin include Berviller, Bervillier, and Bervillé. Bervillier is similar to Berville, and it is also believed to be derived from bercari. On the other hand, Bervillé is more commonly found in French-speaking countries, such as Belgium and Luxembourg.
Alternative surnames with the same origin include Bercier, Berceau, Bercy, Bercey, and Berces. Bercier is the most common variant of these names, and it is derived from the Latin verb bercario. Additionally, Berceau is a derived version that likely evolved from Berville, and Bercey and Berces are likely combined forms of Bervillé and Bervillier.
Famous people with the name Berville
- Jean-Louis Berville (1720-1793), a French opera composer.
- Camille Berville (1856-1912), a French chemist and industrialist.
- Jean Berville (1720-1793), a French lawyer and politician.
- Joseph Berville (1733-1815), a French astronomer and mathematician.
- Raoul Berville (1911-1999), a French politician.
- Sébastien Berville (born 1988), a French sprint canoer.
- Albert Berville (1868-1937), a French journalist and author.
- Edmond Berville (1833-1909), a French jurist and politician.
- François Berville (1723-1790), a French physician and economist.
- Henri Berville (1879-1960), a French composer.