Surname Bergsträsser - Meaning and Origin
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Bergsträsser: What does the surname Bergsträsser mean?
The last name Bergsträsser is a German surname with topographic origins. It first originated as a reference to someone who lived near or on a mountain slope, as the surname is derived from the German words "berg" meaning "mountain" or "slope" and "strasse," meaning "street" or "way." Both elements together can be translated roughly to mean "road or way up the mountain slope."
As with other toponymic surnames, Bergsträsser often refers to the original ancestor who first used the surname, indicating that their residence was previously located near a mountain slope or other hillside. Depending on the geographical area, it may also refer to a mountainside where game and livestock were raised. This was likely the original purpose of this surname: to refer to a family that lived in a mountain valley or near the foot of a mountain slope.
The Bergsträsser surname has been around since at least the early 16th century, enjoyed primarily by the upper class in German-speaking lands. It eventually spread throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other German-speaking areas of Europe. Today, there are still many individuals with this last name living in those areas.
Order DNA origin analysisBergsträsser: Where does the name Bergsträsser come from?
The last name Bergsträsser is a German surname that can be found predominantly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also found in a few other countries with populations of Germanic peoples such as Liechtenstein and Luxembourg. It is also found in small numbers in the United States, Canada, and South Africa.
Bergsträsser is a habitational name derived from the name of a place near Windsbach, Bavaria, Germany. The name of the place is thought to have evolved from an old German word "bergstrassa" which means "a steep path leading down a mountain". The vast majority of people with the surname Bergsträsser are of German descent, however, some sources indicate that certain families of this name may have had roots in other European countries.
During the mid-19th century, many people with the Bergsträsser family name migrated to the United States in search of a better life and greater economic opportunities. Today, the largest concentrations of people with the last name Bergsträsser are still found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. However, the surname is also fairly widespread across the United States, with the most Bergsträssers living in Texas, Pennsylvania, New York, California, and Wisconsin.
Variations of the surname Bergsträsser
The surname Bergsträsser is commonly spelled with an umlaut over the letter "a" as Bergsträsser. It is also found spelled without this umlaut as Bergstraesser in some sources. Spellings of the name Bergsträsser with other variations in spelling include Bergstraesser, Bergestraesser, Bergestraeser Bergesträsser, Bergstässer, Bergstäßer Bergstasser, Bergtasser, Berstasser, Berstässer, Berstäßer, Berstraesser, Berstraeser Berstrasser, Bersträsser, Bersträßer.
Variant forms of the surname Bergsträsser include Bergstrasser, Bergrasträsser, Bergstrosser, Bergestrosser, Bergestroßer, Bergestraeser, Berghstässer, Berghstäßer Berghtasser, Bergstrass, Bergstrasz, Berstrasse, Berstrassz, and Berstrassen.
There are also several diminutive surnames, or pet names, derived from the surname Bergsträsser such as Berghstraser, Berghstraeßer, Bergstras, Bergstrasi, Bergstrass, Bergstratzer, Bergstroesser, Bergstrosser, Bergstroz, Bergemtrosser, Bergsstrasser, Berghstrasser, and Bergstroeßer.
The surnames Bergsträsser and Bersträsser are quite closely related and both are derived from the German phrase “bergstrosser” which means “mountain crosser” and denotes someone who lived near a mountain in Germany. Bergsträsser is also a fairly common surname in Pennsylvania Dutch culture.
Famous people with the name Bergsträsser
- Susanne Bergsträsser: a German Olympic alpine skier who competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.
- Ann-Kathrin Bergsträsser: a professional tennis player from Germany.
- Johann Wilhelm Bergsträsser: a German Protestant theologian and archaeologist who specialized in Semitic languages.
- Johannes Bergsträsser: a German philologist and Assyriologist who studied Akkadian language and literature in the late 19th century.
- Johannes Georg Bergsträsser: a German historian who specialized in Medieval studies and was one of the pioneers of the German school of historical critical research.
- Bruno Bergsträsser: a German pathologist, who discovered various medical conditions, such as Friedreich's ataxia and Sandhoff disease.
- Harald Bergsträsser: a German ethnologist and professor of tropical geography, who studied in Africa and Indonesia.
- Wilhelm Bergsträsser: a German classical philologist, who wrote extensively about Plato and Xenophon.
- Emil Bergsträsser: a German-born journalist, writer and publicist who was one of the founders of the modern day newspaper.
- Ludwig Bergsträsser: a German philosopher whose work focused on the philosophy of Christianity.