Surname Bertels - Meaning and Origin

Bertels: What does the surname Bertels mean?

The last name Bertels is of German origin, and is derived from the surname Bertolt, which is an ancient compound of two words from Germany's past. The first part comes from "berht," which means bright, and the second part from "wald," or rule. Put together, Bertolt means "bright ruler."

As a name, Bertels has been used by families throughout Europe, but it is most commonly seen in Germany, the Netherlands, and parts of Scandinavia. Today, people with the Bertels surname are likely to have ancestry that traces back to any one of these countries or a combination of them all.

The Bertels surname is likely to have been adopted by many different families over the centuries, as a result of various migrations, wars, and other events. It may have been chosen by a person or a family willing to embody the bright and noble quality of the name, to pay homage to a leader of a powerful dynasty, or simply as a convenient common name.

Interestingly, the Bertels surname is found more often in Belgium than it is in any other country, suggesting that the name, and its roots, have a special connection to this region in particular. Whatever the reason, it's clear that the Bertels name is associated with great distinction and privilege wherever it is found.

Bertels: Where does the name Bertels come from?

The surname Bertels is common today throughout Europe, particularly in northern Europe. It is primarily found in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium.

In Germany, the name is mainly concentrated around the Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia regions of the country, especially the cities of Hannover and Cologne. It can also be found in the southern states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

In Austria, the name is most common in the eastern part of the country, particularly in and around Vienna and Lower Austria.

In the Netherlands, the name is mostly concentrated in and around the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht.

In Belgium, the name is quite widespread, with the largest concentrations in the provinces of Flemish-Brabant and Limburg.

The name is also found in other European countries like France, the UK, Spain, Italy and Denmark. However, its presence in these countries is not as prevalent as in the countries already mentioned.

Variations of the surname Bertels

The surname Bertels has a few different variants, spellings, or surnames of the same origin. These are:

• Bertells

• Berthals

• Berthaus

• Bertelsmann

• Bertell

• Berthold

• Burgtels

• Burtel

• Burtels

• Burtelsmeier

The origin of this surname is German and Dutch, and the most common variation is Bertels. It is thought to have come from the old personal name Bertolf, which was of German origin and was a variation of Berthold. This name is derived from two Germanic elements – berht meaning ‘bright’ and wald meaning ‘ruler’, which create the meaning ‘brilliant ruler’.

The medieval form of Bertolf changed to Bertels over time, and then variants were formed. Bertells and Berthals were created by adding other suffixes, such as ‘-ells' and ‘-als’. Berthaus and Bertelsmann were formed by adding suffix ‘-haus’ and ‘-mann’, with the latter meaning ‘man of Bertels’. Burgtels was made from combining elements such as ‘-burg’ (meaning castle or fortress) and ‘-tels’ (being a variation of the name Bertels).

Variants such as Burtel and Burtels were derived from Bertels, while Burtelsmeier was created by adding the suffix ‘-meier’. This suffix denotes a manager, landlord or mayor of a given area.

Famous people with the name Bertels

• Antje Bertels: popular German racer and multiple winner of the 24 Hours Nürburgring endurance race.
• Heinz-Hermann Bertels: one of the best-known German actors of the 1970s and 1980s.
• Marius Bertels: Danish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for SV Wehen Wiesbaden in the 2. Bundesliga.
• Heide Bertels: German actress who has acted on stage and on television.
• Augusto Bertels: Cuban billionaire businessman and one of the wealthiest persons in the world.
• Christoph Bertels: German tenor, especially known for his Wagner roles.
• Ranja Bertels: German professional chess player.
• Katie Ruth Bertels: popular American actress, dancer, and singer, particularly known for her role as Liesel on The NBC comedy Superstore.
• Felix Bertels: Swedish artist, known primarily for his portrait work in the 19th century.
• Ricardo Bertels: former Uruguayan football goalkeeper who played professionally for Peruvian side Alianza Lima.

Other surnames

BerteBertelBerteldBerteleBertelmannBertelsenBertelsmannBertelsmeierBertelsmeyerBerteltBertenBerteramBertermann