Surname Bernart - Meaning and Origin
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Bernart: What does the surname Bernart mean?
The last name Bernart is derived from a Germanic root, with its earliest recorded spelling being Bernhard. This surname originates from the medieval given name, Bernhard, which was composed of the words “beraht” (meaning “bright”) and “hard” (meaning “strong”). It is often translated as “strong and bright” or “clear and brave”.
Originally, in the Middle Ages, the name Bernart was most likely used as a title for a person who provided religious services. Over time it gradually became associated with individuals who possessed the characteristics of courage, strength and wisdom, and the name eventually became associated with nobility and honorable people.
The spelling of the surname was eventually changed to Bernart, likely when it migrated to lands outside of Germany; specifically, it was among families who emigrated to France, the Netherlands, and Belgium in the 16th century. As such, the name is most commonly seen in those countries.
Today, the surname Bernart is typically seen as an homage to honoring characteristics of courage, strength and wisdom. People with this surname can be found in families, small towns, and cities all around the world.
In addition, the surname Bernart may also be seen as reflection of an individual’s past – a reminder of a family’s origin and a testament to the courage, strength and wisdom of those who came before.
Order DNA origin analysisBernart: Where does the name Bernart come from?
The last name Bernart is not overly common today. In the United States, where the most recent census data is available, Bernart ranks at 29,906 among popular U.S. surnames. This means it is not particularly common, but not among the rarest either.
The majority of Bernarts in the U.S. live in three states: New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. In New York, the name is ranked as the 11,170th most-common surname. In Pennsylvania, it ranks at 14,721st place, and in Ohio, it’s the 24,421st most-common name.
The name Bernart is also found among the citizens of Argentina and France. In Argentina, the name ranks 154th among popular surnames, making it quite popular. In France, Bernart is not as popular but is still ranked between 8,452nd and 12,773rd.
In many areas of Switzerland and Germany, the last name is used more often. In Switzerland, it’s ranked between the 1,053rd and 1,609th most-common name. In Germany, Bernart is ranked between the 213th to 4428th most popular surname, depending on the region.
In Sum, the last name Bernart is not a particularly popular surname today. It is found most prominently in the United States, France, Germany, Argentina, and Switzerland.
Variations of the surname Bernart
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Bernart include Bernhard, Bernhardt, Berhardt, Bernhardt, Bernhardter, Bernhardtsen, Bernhardus, Bernhart, Bernhardsen, Bernhardson, Bernard, Bernardo, Bernardino, Bernd, Berndt, Bernet, Bernhardine, Bernhart, Berent, Biernart, Biernhardt, Burnhard, Burnhardt, Burnhart, and Burnhardt.
The surname Bernart has its roots in Germanic language, which is evident through its several variants. It derived from the given name Bernhard, which may have referred to someone brave and strong, but could also have originated as a nickname for someone born on St. Bernhard's Day in the Germanic regions (corresponding to the month of June). The name first became popular in the 8th century and flourished with the growth of the German Empire.
The English variant is Bernard, which later was used to create surnames like Bernhard, Bernhardt, and others mentioned above. The French version Bernardo was also derived from the same name. This surname could be found in the Latinized form “Bernardus” in early medieval documents.
In some parts of Europe, the name could have been found as “Berent” or “Biernart”, which are derived from the German “Bebrecht”. This is a variation of the given name “Beraht” and “Beret”, which is still used in some parts of Bavaria.
Throughout time, the name Bernart gained momentum and has since become a very common surname which is used worldwide. It is worth noting that there are several variant spellings depending on locality.
Famous people with the name Bernart
- Heinz Bernart: German actor
- Libuše Šafránková: Czech dramatic soprano, born as Libuše Bernartová
- Jürgen Bernart: German sailor and Olympian
- Irving Berner: American Yiddish actor
- Elizabeth Berner: British singer
- Augustin Bernart: French painter
- Arthur Berner: Finnish historian
- Jürgen Bernart: German sculptor
- Frederick Bernart: Canadian ice hockey player
- Tina Bernert: German soprano
- Stefan Bernhard: Austrian actor
- Florian Bernart: German rapper
- Alexander Bernart: German doctor
- Clifford Bernart: American politician
- Jeffrey S. Bernert: American historian