Surname Brait - Meaning and Origin
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Brait: What does the surname Brait mean?
The last name Brait is of German origin and translates to mean "braid", referring to a plait or interwoven hairstyle. It is believed to have been used as a nickname for someone who had long, hair that was often braided.
Although the modern spelling of the surname is most likely a derivation of "Brait", it is found in many different forms throughout various times and places. In records dating back to the 1500's, it is found in Germany as "Braydt", as well as variants such as "Brait", "Brayte", "Braytman" and "Braytzman".
In more recent times, the surname has spread throughout the English-speaking world. In the United States, families bearing the name Brait can be found in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and Massachusetts. Similarly, in Canada, the name appears in the records from Ontario, as well as in the British Isles in countries such as the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Today, the name Brait is used as both a first and last name, and often takes on different spellings for each family. No matter the spelling, the Brait name holds the same meaning of one who has the special quality and creativity of interweaving and plaiting different elements together.
Order DNA origin analysisBrait: Where does the name Brait come from?
The surname Brait is common today mainly in countries with large populations of Germanic descent. In Germany, it is the 98th most common surname, and it is the 404th most common surname in the Netherlands. It has also been adopted by populations of Scandinavian, French, and Slavic origin.
In the United States, the surname Brait is most commonly found in areas that have a high density of Germanic populations, such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Iowa. This is likely because the name originates from German language roots, where it is spelled Breit. The highest concentration of Brait surnames occur in Pennsylvania, which makes sense considering its high German-speaking population.
In Canada, Brait is also relatively common in areas with large German-speaking populations, particularly in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta. The number of people with the surname Brait has increased overall in the past few decades.
In comparison to other areas, the surname is much less common in the United Kingdom, where it ranks about 15,000th in popularity.
Overall, the surname Brait is most common today in countries and regions with large populations of Germanic descent, most notably in Europe and North America.
Variations of the surname Brait
The surname Brait has a variety of spellings and variants, as well as possible surnames of similar origins.
The most common spellings of Brait include Bratt, Brait, Brett, Brat, Breet, and Brett. The spelling variants of Brait, including Bramm, Bram, Brame, Braam, Bramme, Braham, Brahm, and Brehm are also common.
Noteworthy surnames of similar origins to Brait include Bright, Brite, and Braid, which are derived from the Middle English word “bryght” meaning “bright, clear, and radiant.” Furthermore, Brait and Bright may both derive from the Old English words “bregd” and “brugd” meaning “clothes” and “ridge,” respectively.
The surnames Britz, Bretz, and Britsch may furthermore derive from the names originating from southwestern Germany, where any of the given spellings of Brait could have been Germanized and an extra ‘z’ or ‘sch’ could have been added, likely for ease of pronunciation or to emphasize the connection to the original name.
In conclusion, the surnames Brait, Bratt, Brett, Brat, Breet, Bramm, Bram, Brame, Braam, Bramme, Braham, Brahm, Brehm, Bright, Brite, Braid, Britz, Bretz, and Britsch, all have potential connections to the same origin and can be seen as variants of one another.
Famous people with the name Brait
- Marcello Brait: Brazilian playback singer and actor
- Alejo Brait: Uruguayan referee and businessman
- Alexandria Brait: American model and TV personality
- Luís Brait: Portuguese Olympic volleyball player
- Ignacio de Loyola Brait: Argentine physicist and WWF delegate
- Ricardo Brait: Spanish entrepreneur
- Geysa Brait: Brazilian swimmer
- Marion Brait: American basketball and volleyball player
- Marina Brait: Brazilian singer and television personality
- Fabrizio Brait: Argentine filmmaker, designer, and writer