Surname Bertholdt - Meaning and Origin

Bertholdt: What does the surname Bertholdt mean?

The last name Bertholdt is a German name meaning "brightly famous". It is derived from the Old German words beraht (bright, famous) and walt (ruler, ruler of the army). It was commonly used as a house name for relatives of the count or ruler of the land.

The name also implies the family's military heritage. It was a popular name among medieval knights and military families, and it is still carried by many families descended from them. Additionally, Bertholdt was used as a nickname for those of noble birth during the Middle Ages.

The modern Bertholdts are people of high social standing. Those with the last name typically have a respected position in society, and many go on to achieve success in their chosen fields. There has been a Bertholdt Prime Minister in Germany, multiple members of German royalty, and U.S. Presidents and politicians, among many others.

The name Bertholdt is also associated with strength, stability, and other noble qualities. It is a name that is sure to inspire respect, and continues to be one of the most prominent German surnames.

Bertholdt: Where does the name Bertholdt come from?

The last name Bertholdt is a German name, and it is most commonly found today in Germany and in the surrounding areas of Central Europe such as Austria, Switzerland, Poland, and the Czech Republic. It can also be found in other countries with large German populations, including the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina. The name is generally spelled Bertholdt across Central Europe, although some variants also exist, such as Bertold, Bertholt, and Bertolt.

Bertholdt is an old first name, derived from the Germanic word “berh” meaning “bright” and “hold” meaning “bold” and “full of courage”. This originally referred to a strong and brave person who was full of courage and vitality. The family-name variant, Bertholdt, came about in the late middle ages. It is assumed to originate from a Bertholdt Gall, a wise man of enormous power within the society of the time period, in the area of what is now northern Germany.

Today, the last name Bertholdt remains quite common in Germany, especially in the Bavarian regions of Franken and Niederbayern. It is estimated that nearly 1% of German citizens bear this name. Outside of Germany, the name is much less common, although it still is present in the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina, due to the large German-immigrant populations.

Variations of the surname Bertholdt

The surname Bertholdt is derived from an old German name Bertold, which was derived from an old Germanic name meaning “bright ruler” or “excellent ruler.” As such, the surname is associated with a number of variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

The most common spelling of the surname is Bertholdt, although it appears in numerous other spellings. Some of the more common spellings of Bertholdt include Barthold, Berthold, Beurtholdt, Bertold, Bertoldo, Bertolet, Burtold, Birtold, and Beirtolet.

Though Bertholdt is the most common spelling of the surname, it also appears with other prefixes. For example, it appears with the prefix “von”, which is a German marker of nobility, as Von Bertholdt. An alternate spelling of the same marker of nobility is “von Berchtoldt.”

In addition, the surname Bertholdt is associated with a number of surnames that are derived from the same root name: Bertolini, Bertelli, Bertolli, Bertolini, Bertolino, and Bertolini. The surname may also be seen as part of combined surnames, like Bertolet-Bertholdt or Bertold-Bertholdt.

Overall, there are numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin associated with the surname Bertholdt. These surnames are reflective of the surname’s Germanic roots and offer insight into how the surname has evolved over time.

Famous people with the name Bertholdt

• Eduard Bernhardt: German stage actor of the 19th and early 20th centuries
• Theodore von Bertholdt: Austrian naval officer
• Karl Bertholdt: German Olympic athlete and swimmer
• Friedrich Bertholdt: German classical composer
• Carl Bertholdt: German mining engineer and industrial innovator
• Alfred Bertholdt: German sculptor and painter
• Gustav von Bertholdt: Prussian Statesman
• Charlotte Bertholdt: German author and feminist
• Arthur Bertholdt: German World War II general
• Hermann Bertholdt: German World War II air force commander
• Richard Bertholdt: German economic historian
• Julius Bertholdt: German political economist
• Johann Bertholdt: German theatre manager
• August Bertholdt: German psychiatrist
• Wilhelm Bertholdt: German botanist
• Johannes Bertholdt: German philologist and author
• Karl Theodor Bertholdt: German philosopher
• Gerda Bertholdt: German mountaineer
• Ludwig Bertholdt: German aviator, paratrooper and flight instructor
• Adolph Bertholdt: German nature photographer and ornithologist

Other surnames

Bertholome