Surname Bruder - Meaning and Origin
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Bruder: What does the surname Bruder mean?
The last name Bruder is a German Patronymic surname, which means “brother” in English. It is a very common name found throughout Germany and surrounding countries. It is also associated with other spellings such as Brüder, Breuder, Broder, Broeder, and Brewer.
A patronymic surname is derived from an ancestor’s first name, and indicates a familial relationship that is traced through the paternal line of descent. It was quite common for settlers of German origin to Americanize their surname to variations of Broder or Brewer.
The origin of the name is believed to come from medieval Germany. Not only were the sons of one’s father referred to as “brothers”, but they were also known as “Bruders”. “Bruder” was used as an honorific title, given to people who were not actually biologically related. This was done in order to show respect to a person who was particularly close to the family, or had a unique bond with them.
The name Bruder can be found throughout many European countries in a variety of spelling variations. It is also common in Jewish communities due to the similarities in meaning between “Bruder” and the Hebrew word “Ahuvim”, meaning“beloved". For many people the name has become an integral part of their identity, as it is a reminder of their ancestors and their heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisBruder: Where does the name Bruder come from?
The last name Bruder is of German origin and is still most commonly found in Germany today. It can also be found in other parts of the German-speaking world such as Austria, Switzerland, and areas of the former Austrian-Hungarian Empire. Immigrants who came from these parts of Europe to other countries like the United States, Canada, and Brazil also brought the last name Bruder with them. Thus, the surname can be found in these countries too, though in much smaller numbers.
Notable people bearing the Bruder surname include:
Gottlieb Jakob Bruder (1779–1846), a German theologian and philosopher; Rikka Bruder (born 1981), American ice hockey player; Joan Bruder (born 1941), American psychologist, old age expert, and gerontology professor; Douglas Bruder (1944–2012), American sculptor; and actor James Bond's stunt doubles Scott Bruder (born 1979) and Darrin Bruder (born 1979).
The surname Bruder is an occupational name, and it literally means "brother" in German. It may have been borne by a monk or member of an order. It is also possible that some instances of the name are derived from the Middle High German word bruoder, which describes a brother-in-law.
Variations of the surname Bruder
Bruder is a German surname derived from the Middle High German ‘brouder’, meaning 'brother' and was usually given as an occupational name to either an unrelated male friend (brother) or an adopted son. The name has also been found in Frisian languages and in combination with a range of locatives (e.g. Bruderhoff).
Variant spellings of Bruder include Breuder, Brüder, Breuder, Broeder, Bruderhoff and Broderhoff. There are also many German and American variants of the surname such as Broders, Brueder, Broaderick and Broederick.
Surnames of similar origin to Bruder are Bruderer, Bruderer, Bruderle, Bruderly, Bruer, Bruerd, Bruederle, Brueder, Broeder, Brouwer, Bruit, Broders and Briere.
The German version of Bruder has spread through Europe and is also common in Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Poland and Lithuania. It is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
In some cases, the spelling of Bruder has been changed to fit the language of the nation it is in, such as in French and Dutch. In French, it is spelled Lebrun, Lebrunh and Lebru in Dutch. Similarly, in Spanish the Bruder surname is spelled "Bruger", while in Portuguese it is "Brisor".
Famous people with the name Bruder
- Phedon Papamichael: Academy Award-winning cinematographer and director
- J.C. Bruder: circus acrobat and an entertainer in the Hall of Presidents at the Disney Parks
- Rebecca Bruder: professional trampoline acrobat
- David Bruder: American sportscaster and actor
- Chad Bruder: former American football running back
- Maria Bruder: German actress
- Ricardo Bruder: Brazilian artist, musician, film executive and entrepreneur
- Benno Bruder: German Jesuit and professor of mathematics
- Olaf Bruder: German Olympic alpine skier
- Rainer Bruder: German celebrity photographer