Surname Berwardt - Meaning and Origin
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Berwardt: What does the surname Berwardt mean?
The last name Berwardt is a variation of the surname Berwerth, which has Germanic origins. It is believed to come from the root words “ber” or “bera” meaning an animal, and “werth” meaning to protect. Historically, this surname was used to denote a person who specialized in animal husbandry or animal caretaking. It is also thought to be a patronymic name that was adopted to show allegiance to a specific person, as many Germanic names are derived from the names of respected ancestors.
The majority of people with the last name Berwardt or Berwerth can trace their lineage to Germany, where the name is most common. In the United States, the name is predominately found in areas of the country with higher numbers of German immigrants or people with German ancestry. While it is probably uncommon to find someone with the exact spelling of Berwardt, there are many variant spellings, including Berwerdt, Berwerth, Berwerd, Berwert, and Berwertz.
The best way to understand the etymology and history of this unique surname is to look into the family's ancestral history and research old documents such as baptismal records, census data, and public censuses. Such research might allow individuals to discover exactly how their ancestors spelled the name and the meaning behind the origin.
Order DNA origin analysisBerwardt: Where does the name Berwardt come from?
The last name Berwardt is quite common across Germany, particularly in the state of Saxony. In 2019, Berwardt was the eighth most-common surname in the state. It is also found in other regions of Germany (e.g. Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, Thuringia), as well elsewhere in Europe, particularly in Poland and Belgium.
The surname is also found in the United States and Canada, although at much lower levels, in keeping with many German emigrants of prior centuries. In America it is seen primarily in the Midwestern states of Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota (all former German settlements), and also in other parts of the country such as California, Florida, and New York.
Sources suggest the origin of the name Berwardt is rooted in the Old German words 'ber' and 'werto' which mean ‘bear-like’ and ‘strong’ respectively. This likely refers to bear-like strength that was welcomed or applauded in either a leader, or someone with admirable qualities.
The roots of the surname go back centuries, to the Middle Ages, when most of Germany was the Holy Roman Empire and surnames referred to family or tribal affiliations. We find Berwardts among the first settlers of Delaware and the Carolinas in the 1600s, and among early settlers of Pennsylvania and New Jersey in the 1700s.
Variations of the surname Berwardt
The Berwardt surname is of Germanic origin and is derived from the Bavarian name Bertholdt. This surname has several variants including Berwald, Bardald, and Barbarald. The spelling of the surname, Berwardt, is sometimes found with two 't's, as in Berwardtt.
Other variants of Berwardt include Berwalt, Berwart, Brewerd, Barwalt, Barwald, Barwart, Bardwald, and Bardwart. The double 't' variants may also be seen with one or no 't's, as in Berwar, Berwald, and Berwa. Similarly, variants with the double 'r' may also be seen with one or no 'r's.
There are a variety of surnames derived from the same root as Berwardt, such as Bertald, Beralt, Bartal, Bardall, Bardol, Berald, and Preralt. Additionally, variants and spellings from countries such as Denmark, Sweden, and Finland include Bertel, Bertell, Baritel, and Baritt.
In many countries, alternative spellings and surnames of Berwardt exist, such as Béraud and Béraut in France; Berdyl, Berdal, Berdalik, Berdonec, Berdunak, and Berdysz in Poland; Biirdahl, Biirdal, Biirdel, Biirdol, Biirwell, and Biirwelll in Norway; Bjerdel, Bjerdel, and Bjerdel in Sweden; and Saulo, Berdalo, Raudalo, and Berdolli in Italy. Many of these surnames have been Americanized, such as Beggert, Bergert, and Bergholz.
Famous people with the name Berwardt
- Brigitte Berwardt-Schaefer, German microbiologist
- Wolfgang Berwartdt, German former professional footballer
- Christian Berwardt, German actor
- Erich Berwardt, Austrian poet
- Paul Berwardt, German sculptor
- Lorenz Berwardt, German painter
- Tobias Berwardt, German football player
- Clemens Berwardt, German actor
- Karoline Berwardt, German actor
- Manfred Berwardt, German composer and pianist