Surname Berthus - Meaning and Origin
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Berthus: What does the surname Berthus mean?
The last name Berthus is of German origin, and means “bear”. It is derived from the pre-7th century Germanic element "beraht" which is a combination of two words; “bero” meaning bear, and “hoto” meaning bright or shining. So put together, the surname Berthus roughly translates to “bear bright”.
The family name is most common in France, but it is also found around the world, including the United States. Spelling variations of the last name Berthus include Bertus, Bertous, Bertaux, Barthus, Berthuis, Berthusse, Barthusse, and Berthez.
Throughout Europe and the Mediterranean region, it is believed the origin of the Berthus family was most likely in the northern region of France, where many generations of the family became prominent in local affairs and held influential positions. They were also granted hereditary titles, and granted lands by the French monarchy.
The first recorded spelling of the family name was in the 16th century, when Jore Berthus was listed in the “Chroniques de la Gascogne” (Gascogne Chronicles) in 1588. It is uncertain if this particular man was born with the surname or whether he took the name upon arriving in France.
The Berthus family continues today, and its members are proud of their heritage and their unique name. Many of the modern day Berthus’ might use it as an additional distinguishing factor to take pride in their unique reputation and bloodline. Whether you are a descendant of a noble Berthus or not, you can be sure that the legacy of the Berthus family will still remain throughout history.
Order DNA origin analysisBerthus: Where does the name Berthus come from?
The last name Berthus is most commonly found in Luxembourg and Belgium today. In Luxembourg, the name is more commonly spelled Berthu and the statistical distribution of the last name is highest in the region of Müllerthal. It is also prevalent in the areas of Beaufort, Brandenbourg, and Dalheim. In Belgium, Berthus is the 22nd most common surname and is found primarily in the provinces of East and West Flanders.
In the United States of America, the name can be found in the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, and Iowa. This is due to the influx of immigrants with this name who moved to the US from the countries mentioned above.
In the Netherlands, the name is not particularly prevalent. In the rest of the world, including Canada, Australia, and other European countries, Berthus is either not found or is only very rare.
Overall, the Berthus surname appears to be most commonly found in the countries of Luxembourg and Belgium, thanks to a high number of emigrants from these nations who moved to the US in the 1800s. In the US, it is found in a few states in the Midwest and East Coast. As for other countries, the Berthus name is not found or is very rare.
Variations of the surname Berthus
The surname Berthus is of Germanic origins, derived from the Latin Personal Name Bertus, with the meaning ‘illustrious’. Variants of the surname include Bertus, Berthas, Berthuss, Berte, Berth, Berthold, Berthiaume and Bertheau.
In the United States, this name is found as Bertho, but can also be found in Dutch speaking areas as Bertus. The name is also found spelled Berthas, Berthuss, Berthais and Berthay.
In France and its territories, the surname Berthas is actually a patronymic surname, derived from the name Bertrand. Names with similar spellings include Bertrand, Bertin, Berthet, Bercot, Bervot, Berthillon and Bervois.
In Italy, the name is primarily found as Bertucci or Bertucci, but may also be found spelled Becchetti or Beccheschi.
In England, thename is found as Bartholomew from the personal name Bartholomaeus, and Barth, from the English personal name Bartholomew.
In Scotland, it is found as Bartholomew and related spelling versions, Sanbartheleme, Bertrum or Berthume.
In Ireland, the surname is recorded as Bartley, Bartholomew and Barkley, the latter is an Anglicized version of O’Bertaigh, and in England as Bartholomew or Bartlemay.
In German-speaking areas, the surname is found as Berthold, Berthald, Bertold, Berthalle, and variants such as Bertholdi and Bertholdus.
In Sweden, variations of the surname include Bertil, Bertils, Bertilsson, Bertilson, Bertolin, and others.
Famous people with the name Berthus
- Pieter Berthus de Jonge: Dutch politician
- Jonah Berthuse: American songwriter
- Marie Berthus: Belgian actress
- Benjamin Berthus: Dutch football player
- Frank Berthus: German soccer coach
- Robert Berthus: American cinematographer and director
- Carl Berthus: Danish architect
- Liina Berthus: Estonian actress
- Caulder Berthus: American basketball coach
- Roy Berthus: Dutch footballer