Surname Bette - Meaning and Origin
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Bette: What does the surname Bette mean?
The last name Bette likely originates from the Pre-Germanic personal name Betta, which was derived from the Germanic name "balthaz." This name is composed of two elements: "bold," meaning "bold," and "hadu," meaning "battle." Due to its association with the military, this name was particularly popular among medieval soldiers and warriors. The name is also thought to have been used as a nickname for those with a strong and brave character.
The surname Bette likely entered the French language in the 13th century, likely from an Anglo-Norman family associated with military service. It was also believed to be derived from the French term "bette," meaning rod, staff, or club. This could be indicative of a nickname earned in an environment of competition or combat.
Throughout the years, the surname Bette has evolved and mutated, turning up in many spellings. Today, this surname is most commonly seen as Bette, but other variants include Bet, Betts, Bettes, and Betteson.
This surname is most common among people of French and English descent and is currently found in countries all over the world, including the United States, Canada, France, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. No matter the spelling, the Bette surname is a reminder of a brave and noble past, one still shared between families today.
Order DNA origin analysisBette: Where does the name Bette come from?
The last name Bette is most common in Germany, the Benelux countries, and Spain today. In Germany, Bette ranks fairly high in measure of frequency, being one of the thirty most common German surnames. The name is similarly popular in Belgium and the Netherlands, where it is among the forty most popular surnames. In Luxembourg, Bette is the fifteenth most common family name, and in Spain, the name is the fifty-seventh most popular surname.
It is thought that the name Bette is derived from the Latin name "Bettus," meaning "to enhance." It is thought to be related to the German words "Bedeutung," meaning "meaning," and "Gebet," meaning "prayer." The surname is also associated with the name "Gebhard," meaning "brave."
The earliest known mention of the name Bette dates back to the 1500s in Germany. Since then, it has spread to other European countries, including France, Switzerland, Poland, and Hungary. It has also spread to the United States, where it is now one of the most popular last names. In 2020, Bette was the 1797th most common surname in the United States.
Variations of the surname Bette
The surname Bette is derived from the given name Betta. While the surname Bette is mostly found in England, its variants and alternate spellings are scattered around Europe.
Variants: Bet, Betti, Betta, Betti, Bett, Betta, Betti, Beate, Batt, Batti, Batta, Bette, Bett, etc.
The alternate spellings of the surname Bette may include Bett, Betti, Bette, Beate, and Betta.
Surnames of the same origin as Bette are Batt, Betten, Bettin, Bettine, Betsch, Bette, Bettmann, and Bettinger.
Batt is a variant of the German family name Bote (butterfly). Betten, Bettin, and Bettine are primarily found in Germany, and are all derived from the given name Betta. Betsch and Bettman are both variants of the German surname Bethke, which is derived from the given name Betta. Bettinger is a German surname, derived from given name Betta.
In addition to these variants and alternate spellings, Bette is occasionally found spelled with a double-T such as Bettes and Bettess. This spelling is more common in Scotland.
Famous people with the name Bette
- Bette Midler: American singer-songwriter, actress and comedian who has won numerous awards.
- Bette Davis: American actor considered one of the greatest actresses of all time.
- Harry Bette: Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach.
- Fred Bette: American Major League Baseball shortstop.
- Pierre Bette: French Olympic breaststroke swimmer.
- Joy Bette: Canadian actress and 3-time Genie Award-nominee.
- Ender Bette: American professional football player in the NFL.
- Françoise Bette: French professional tennis player.
- Baby Bette: Guyanese cricketer and coach.
- Amanda Bette: South African actress and theatre artist.