Surname Bertelsen - Meaning and Origin
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Bertelsen: What does the surname Bertelsen mean?
The last name Bertelsen (also spelled Bertelsen) is of Danish origin, and is derived from the Old Norse personal name "Berthil," a combination of two elements meaning “bright” and “battle” respectively. It is a patronymic surname, meaning it is derived from the father's given name, and was originally a clan name.
The earliest known record of the surname is from the 16th century, when records show a Sivert Berthilssen, living in Helsinge, Denmark. Subsequent records involving the surname Bertelsen can be found across Northern Europe from the mid-16th to the mid-19th centuries, as the name spread from Denmark with the migration of Danish people.
The spelling variations of the surname are attributed to the different language dialects and nationality, as well as the difficultly of transcribing the sound of the Germanic last name. Some spelling variations include Burtelle, Burtall, Bertell, Bertele, Barlse, etc.
Today, the Bertelsen surname has spread around the world, with the largest concentration in Scandinavia, particularly in Denmark and Sweden. There is also a significant population of Danish and Norwegian people bearing the last name in the United States, mostly concentrated in the Midwest, New England, and the Rocky Mountain States.
The last name Bertelsen is not only a proud Danish heritage, but a reminder of the adventurous migrations of Old Norse and Germanic people around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisBertelsen: Where does the name Bertelsen come from?
The last name Bertelsen is most common in Northern Europe, especially Scandinavia, where it has been used for centuries. It is found across all of Denmark in particular, making up 0.5% of the population. It can also be found in Norway, where it is the 143rd most common surname, and in Sweden, where it is the 233rd most common surname.
Lesser concentrations of people bearing the Bertelsen name can be found in Germany, where it appears on 0.006% of the population in the 2016 census, and in the Netherlands, where it is found on 0.002% of the population. In the United States, it is found at 0.0003% of the population, with most of these individuals originating from one of the countries listed above.
Bertelsen is also a very common surname in England, second only to Smith in terms of frequency. It is found in London and across the rest of England, making up 0.072% of the population according to the 2011 census.
Given the ubiquity of the Bertelsen surname, individuals with that last name can trace their roots to a number of distinct geographic regions. Whether they trace their origins to the frigid reaches of Scandinavia, or to the storied streets of England, or even to the sun-drenched climes of the American South, their last name is ubiquitous as much as it is distinctive.
Variations of the surname Bertelsen
The surname Bertelsen is a patronymic surname derived from the personal name Bert or Berte. Common variants and spellings of the surname Bertelsen include Berteisen, Berteesen, Berteis, Bertees, Bertheisen, Berteisem, and Berteisen.
Other surnames of the same origin include Berentsen, Bjertesen, Bjertison, Børgesen, Børgesdatter, and Bjertesdatter. Furthermore, spellings in other countries include Berthelsen, Berthels, Bertell, Bertells, Berthel, Berthele, Bertelsen, Bertelssen, and Bertelssen.
Other variants include Bertleson, Bartelson, Bertellin, Bartholsen, Bertells, Birtleson, Bartilson, Bartelson, Bartelson, Bartels, Bertilson, Berthleson, Berthles, Bertlesen, and Barlson.
These variations likely developed over time due to a lack of standardisation of surnames in the Middle Ages which was mainly due to the difficulty of illiteracy, regional dialects and foreign languages. At that time, most people were known by individual names such as "Bert" or "Berte". After a while, these names merged with patronymic naming conventions, and some of the variants of the original surname have seen a steady decrease in usage over the years.
Modern variants of the surname Bertelsen are most common in Denmark, as well as German-speaking countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein. They are also present in the United States as well as other parts of the world such as Canada, England, Scotland, Australia, and New Zealand.
Famous people with the name Bertelsen
- Bo Bertelsen: Danish actor
- Lasse Bertelsen: Danish handball player
- Helle Bertelsen: Danish singer and actress
- Mogs Bertelsen: Danish entrepreneur
- Caroline Bertelsen: American hockey player
- Stig Bertelsen: Danish actor and screenwriter
- Mikkel Bertelsen: Danish professional footballer
- Troels Bertelsen: Danish singer
- Hanne Bertelsen: Danish Olympic swimmer
- Morten Bertelsen: Norwegian jazz pianist and composer