Surname Bronte - Meaning and Origin
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Bronte: What does the surname Bronte mean?
The last name Bronte is of French origin and is originally derived from the word brontë, which means thunder in ancient French. The usage of this name in France dates back to as early as the 13th century.
The first recorded spelling of the surname is Bronte, dating back to 1267 in France. It is believed that the Bronte family originated from Brittany, a region in northwestern France.
This name was then brought to England by the Normans and became prominent throughout Europe during the Middle Ages.
Today, the Bronte surname is quite popular. While some families use the original French spelling, others have chosen to adjust it to various forms such as Brawney or de Brown.
The Bronte surname is linked to the famous literary family, the Brontës, made up of three unique and talented sisters. Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Bronte are all renowned English authors from the Victorian era who made their mark on the world of literature with their timeless works.
Ultimately, the Bronte name is strongly rooted in French culture and is associated with high levels of literary talent. The Bronte family has made its imprint upon the world, and the surname continues to be proudly passed down through generations.
Order DNA origin analysisBronte: Where does the name Bronte come from?
The last name Bronte, based on the famous literary Bronte sisters of the 19th century, is commonly found in the English-speaking world today, particularly in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The Bronte name may have originated in these countries due to the popularity of the Bronte sisters’ works, including classics such as Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre.
In the United Kingdom, Cumbria is the most likely place to find a Bronte surname, followed by Yorkshire, Lancashire and Durham, all areas represented by the Bronte family when the family lived in the Haworth area of the North Riding of Yorkshire.
In the rest of the English-speaking world, Bronte is also a popular name, particularly in Australia and Canada. Australia is home to many Bronte families, who appear to have emigrated from the British Isles in the 19th and 20th centuries. Likewise, Canada has also seen a rise in Bronte families, many of whom have roots in the British Isles.
The Bronte name can also be found in other countries, such as the United States, Ireland and South Africa. It may be because of the relocation of some individuals who believed the Bronte name to be unique or simply wanted to keep the Bronte name alive in new places. Additionally, the popularity of the Bronte sisters works has resulted in people making a conscious decision to name their children after the literary family.
Overall, the Bronte surname is widely known throughout the English-speaking world. It is particularly evident in countries where the Bronte sisters’ works were popularised, such as the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. People of any nationality may also have chosen the Bronte surname for various reasons. It is also found in other countries, but its presence is less common.
Variations of the surname Bronte
The Bronte surname originates from a location in Northern Italy known as Brescia. Its variants and spellings include Bontas, Bonté, Bronté, Brontey, Brontie, and Brontaeus. It is believed that this surname derived from a Latin expression which means "harvester," and is derived from an Italian word "brontes."
The Bronte surnames can also be found among Sicilian and Calabrian people. In Sicily, this surname is common as the Brontas, Bontas, and Bonté. In Calabria, it is found as Brontie or Brontaeus. In England, the name Bronte is more common, but Brontey is also used.
The Bronte surname is associated with a variety of people, including the famous literary family of Emily, Charlotte, and Anne Bronte, as well as contemporary politicians, activists, scientists, and athletes. Famous names connected to the surname include the Nobel Prize-winning writer Toni Morrison, and the influential 19th Century poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
The Bronte surname has received recognition and acclaim in the form of books, films, and plays, and has even inspired place names around the world. It remains firmly entrenched in the literary and creative sphere due to the continued §§success of the Bronte sisters' body of writing.
Famous people with the name Bronte
- Emily Bronte: Emily Bronte was an English novelist and poet who wrote the famous novel “Wuthering Heights”. Born in Thornton, Yorkshire in 1818, she was one of the three Bronte sisters who wrote novels in the 19th century. Their mother, Maria, and two elder sisters, Maria and Elizabeth, passed away in childhood.
- Charlotte Bronte: Charlotte Bronte was the eldest of the three Bronte sisters and is best known for her novel “Jane Eyre”. Born in 1816 in Thornton, Yorkshire, she studied at the Clergy Daughters’ School in Cowan Bridge and after that worked in many places to support her family.
- Anne Bronte: Anne Bronte was the youngest of the Bronte sisters. Born in 1820 in Thornton, Yorkshire, she withdrew from school due to health issues. She wrote two novels, “Agnes Grey” and “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” while living with her siblings at Haworth in Yorkshire.
- Branwell Bronte: Branwell Bronte was the only brother in the Bronte family. Born in 1817, he served as a tutor and aided in the publication of his sisters’ works. He wrote several poems and narratives in his lifetime, but his works went largely unknown until recently.
- Patrick Bronte: Patrick Bronte was the father of the three Bronte sisters. Born in Ireland in 1777, he was a Church of England priest of both Irish and English descent. He helped his daughters publish their works and cared for them until his death in 1861.
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Comments or additions to the name "Bronte"
12.03.2024
The name is of Greek origin, not French.