Surname Bernardo - Meaning and Origin

Bernardo: What does the surname Bernardo mean?

The surname Bernardo is of Italian and Spanish origin and is derived from the Germanic personal name "Bernhard" or "Berinhard," which means "brave as a bear." The name is composed of two elements: “bern,” which means "bear", and “hard,” which means "hardy," "brave," or "strong." Therefore, the combination translates as "strong or brave as a bear." The name became popular in continental Europe due to the fame of St. Bernard of Clairvaux (12th Century) and St. Bernard of Menthon (11th Century). Like many surnames, it also began as a first name. Its popularity led it to be used as a surname, often given to sons as a secondary name to distinguish them from others with the same first name. Later, it evolved to become a family name passed down to successive generations.

Bernardo: Where does the name Bernardo come from?

The surname Bernardo originated from Germanic roots, deriving from "Bernhard" or "Beornheard," where "bern" signifies "bear" and "hard" means "brave" or "hardy." Especially prevalent during the Middle Ages, it was given to individuals sharing these traits as personal names before becoming hereditary family names. As a surname, it spread across Europe, evolving into different versions depending on the region. For example, Bernard in France and England, Bernhardsen in Norway, Bernárd in Hungary, and Bernardo in Italy, Spain, and Portugal.

Today, Bernardo is a common surname in several countries that have experienced significant Spanish or Portuguese influence due to their histories of colonization. This includes nations in Latin America, such as Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina, and in Europe, such as Spain and Portugal. It's also found in the Philippines and parts of the United States where there are substantial Hispanic and Latino populations.

Variations of the surname Bernardo

The surname Bernardo is of Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese origin. Variants of this surname can vary based on regional differences and changes in spelling over time. Variants can include: Bernard, Bernhard, Bernhardt, Bernardi, Bernardini, Bernardone, Bernards, Bernardes, Bernardet, Bernardin, and Bernarducci.

The surname is derived from the personal name "Bernardo," which is a compound of "bern," meaning bear, and "hard," meaning hardy, brave, or strong. Therefore, the surname has been associated with individuals who are brave or strong.

Variations of the surname can also show up based on translations into different languages. For example, in German, the name can become "Bernhard" while in French it can change to "Bernard".

In Southern Italy, the surname may take on a more diminutive form such as "Bernardello," while in Northern Italy, the surname might appear as "Bernardini" or "Bernardoni".

Some individuals with the surname "Bernardo" may also be known by similar surnames which have adopted feminine endings, such as "Bernarda" or "Bernarde".

It's quite common for surnames to have variants due to differences in spelling, cultural influences, and regional dialects. Therefore, a range of variants exist for the surname "Bernardo".

Famous people with the name Bernardo

• Kathryn Bernardo: This highly-acclaimed Filipina actress, known for her roles in several Philippine movies and TV series such as "Barcelona: A Love Untold" and "Got To Believe", has been active in the entertainment industry since 2003.
• Laura Bernardo: This Portuguese handball player is known for her appearance in the 2016 European Women's Handball Championship.
• Valeria Bernardo: A Spanish athlete, Valeria competed in alpine skiing at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2019.
• Andrés Bernardo Giubergia: Popularly known as "Bernardo", he is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward.
• Bernardo Silva: Bernardo Mota Veiga de Carvalho e Silva is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Manchester City and the Portugal national team.
• Enoch Bernardo de Araújo is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Portuguese club Gil Vicente, on loan from Palmeiras.
• Reinaldo Bernardo is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor, World champion in 2006.
• Clara Bernardo is a Canadian/Australian soprano, happy to sing in French, Italian, German, English and Spanish.
• Dan Bernardo is an American academic and the current Provost and Executive Vice President at Washington State University.

Other surnames

BernardBernardiBernardinBernardingBernardsBernardtBernardusBernardyBernareBernartBernarthBernartzBernarz