HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Bert is a hypocoristic form of a number of various Germanic male given names, such as
Robert The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, h ...
, Albert, Elbert,
Herbert Herbert may refer to: People Individuals * Herbert (musician), a pseudonym of Matthew Herbert Name * Herbert (given name) * Herbert (surname) Places Antarctica * Herbert Mountains, Coats Land * Herbert Sound, Graham Land Australia * Herbert, ...
, Hilbert, Hubert,
Gilbert Gilbert may refer to: People and fictional characters *Gilbert (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters *Gilbert (surname), including a list of people Places Australia * Gilbert River (Queensland) * Gilbert River (South A ...
, Wilbert, Filbert, Norbert, Osbert,
Bertram Bertram may refer to: Places * Bertram, Western Australia, a suburb of Perth, Australia *Bertram, Iowa, United States, a city * Bertram, Texas, United States, a city * Bertram Building, a historic building in Austin, Texas * Bertram Glacier, Palmer ...
, Berthold, Bertrand, Umberto, Humbert, Cuthbert, Delbert, Dilbert, Dagobert, Rimbert, Egbert, Siegbert, Gualbert, Gerbert,
Lambert Lambert may refer to People *Lambert (name), a given name and surname * Lambert, Bishop of Ostia (c. 1036–1130), became Pope Honorius II *Lambert, Margrave of Tuscany ( fl. 929–931), also count and duke of Lucca *Lambert (pianist), stage-name ...
, Engelbert, Friedbert, Gombert, Calbert, Leebert and Colbert. There is a large number of Germanic names ending in ''-bert'', second in number only to those ending in ''-wolf'' (''-olf'', ''-ulf''). Most of these names are early medieval and only a comparatively small fraction remains in modern use. The element ''-berht'' has the meaning of "
bright Bright may refer to: Common meanings *Bright, an adjective meaning giving off or reflecting illumination; see Brightness *Bright, an adjective meaning someone with intelligence People *Bright (surname) *Bright (given name) *Bright, the stage name ...
", Old English ''beorht/berht'', Old High German ''beraht/bereht'', ultimately from a
Common Germanic Proto-Germanic (abbreviated PGmc; also called Common Germanic) is the reconstructed proto-language of the Germanic branch of the Indo-European languages. Proto-Germanic eventually developed from pre-Proto-Germanic into three Germanic bra ...
*''berhtaz'', from a PIE root *''bhereg-'' "white, bright". The female hypocoristic of names containing the same element is Berta. Modern English
bright Bright may refer to: Common meanings *Bright, an adjective meaning giving off or reflecting illumination; see Brightness *Bright, an adjective meaning someone with intelligence People *Bright (surname) *Bright (given name) *Bright, the stage name ...
itself has the same etymology, but it has suffered metathesis at an early date, already in the Old English period, attested as early as AD 700 in the Lindisfarne Gospels. The unmetastasized form disappears after AD 1000 and
Middle English Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English ...
from about 1200 has ''briht'' universally.


Names containing ''berht''

There is no evidence of the ''berht'' element in Germanic personal names prior to the 6th century. It is mostly unknown in names of
Goths The Goths ( got, 𐌲𐌿𐍄𐌸𐌹𐌿𐌳𐌰, translit=''Gutþiuda''; la, Gothi, grc-gre, Γότθοι, Gótthoi) were a Germanic people who played a major role in the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the emergence of medieval Euro ...
, Vandals,
Frisians The Frisians are a Germanic ethnic group native to the coastal regions of the Netherlands and northwestern Germany. They inhabit an area known as Frisia and are concentrated in the Dutch provinces of Friesland and Groningen and, in Germany ...
or
Norse Norse is a demonym for Norsemen, a medieval North Germanic ethnolinguistic group ancestral to modern Scandinavians, defined as speakers of Old Norse from about the 9th to the 13th centuries. Norse may also refer to: Culture and religion * Nor ...
, and only rarely occurs in names of Saxons. By contrast, it is very common among
Anglo-Saxons The Anglo-Saxons were a cultural group who inhabited England in the Early Middle Ages. They traced their origins to settlers who came to Britain from mainland Europe in the 5th century. However, the ethnogenesis of the Anglo-Saxons happened wit ...
,
Lombards The Lombards () or Langobards ( la, Langobardi) were a Germanic people who ruled most of the Italian Peninsula from 568 to 774. The medieval Lombard historian Paul the Deacon wrote in the '' History of the Lombards'' (written between 787 an ...
,
Franks The Franks ( la, Franci or ) were a group of Germanic peoples whose name was first mentioned in 3rd-century Roman sources, and associated with tribes between the Lower Rhine and the Ems River, on the edge of the Roman Empire.H. Schutz: Tools, ...
and Bavarians. The popularity of the element in certain areas may be related to religion, similar to the ''wolf'' element being due to the worship of Wodanaz, the names with ''berht'' can be considered theophoric, in connection with the goddess
Perchta or (English: Bertha), also commonly known as and other variations, was once known as a goddess in Alpine paganism in the Upper German and Austrian regions of the Alps. Her name may mean "the bright one" ( goh, beraht, bereht, from Proto-Germa ...
. The full form of Old High German ''beraht'' is reduced in two ways, by omission of either the second (''berht, perht, pert'') or the first vowel (''braht, praht, brat, prat, brecht''). Early attestations of such names include ''Ethberictus'', ''Garberictus'', and ''Transberictus'' mentioned in Hontheim's ''Historia Trevirensis'' s. a. 699. Pardessus' ''Diplomata'' s. a. 745 has ''Berdbert'' as a rare example of a reduplicated Germanic name. Förstemann counts 369 names with final ''-bert(a)'', of which 61 are feminine.E. Förstemann, ''Altdeutsches Namenbuch'' (1856), p. 235–254. Given names that remain in modern use include: # names with ''-bert'' as final element #* Albert/ Æthelberht, Cuthbert, Dagobert, Elbert, Egbert, Engelbert, Filbert, Gerbert,
Gilbert Gilbert may refer to: People and fictional characters *Gilbert (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters *Gilbert (surname), including a list of people Places Australia * Gilbert River (Queensland) * Gilbert River (South A ...
,
Harbert Harbert is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bill L. Harbert (1923–2010), American businessman *Chick Harbert (1915–1992), American golfer *Elizabeth Boynton Harbert (1843–1925), American author, lecturer, reformer, philan ...
,
Herbert Herbert may refer to: People Individuals * Herbert (musician), a pseudonym of Matthew Herbert Name * Herbert (given name) * Herbert (surname) Places Antarctica * Herbert Mountains, Coats Land * Herbert Sound, Graham Land Australia * Herbert, ...
, Hubert, Humbert, Ingbert, Isambard (Isembert), Norbert,
Robert The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, h ...
, Tolbert, Wilbert # names with ''Bert-'' as first element #*
Bertram Bertram may refer to: Places * Bertram, Western Australia, a suburb of Perth, Australia *Bertram, Iowa, United States, a city * Bertram, Texas, United States, a city * Bertram Building, a historic building in Austin, Texas * Bertram Glacier, Palmer ...
, Berthold, Bertrand


Names abbreviated "Bert"

The following names are commonly abbreviated as "Bert": * Albert/Adalbert (Æthelbert) * Berthold/Bertold * Bertrand/
Bertram Bertram may refer to: Places * Bertram, Western Australia, a suburb of Perth, Australia *Bertram, Iowa, United States, a city * Bertram, Texas, United States, a city * Bertram Building, a historic building in Austin, Texas * Bertram Glacier, Palmer ...
* Colbert *
Gilbert Gilbert may refer to: People and fictional characters *Gilbert (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters *Gilbert (surname), including a list of people Places Australia * Gilbert River (Queensland) * Gilbert River (South A ...
* Heribert/
Herbert Herbert may refer to: People Individuals * Herbert (musician), a pseudonym of Matthew Herbert Name * Herbert (given name) * Herbert (surname) Places Antarctica * Herbert Mountains, Coats Land * Herbert Sound, Graham Land Australia * Herbert, ...
* Hubert *
Lambert Lambert may refer to People *Lambert (name), a given name and surname * Lambert, Bishop of Ostia (c. 1036–1130), became Pope Honorius II *Lambert, Margrave of Tuscany ( fl. 929–931), also count and duke of Lucca *Lambert (pianist), stage-name ...
* Norbert *
Robert The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, h ...
*
Cumbert __NOTOC__ Cynefrith (died 843) was a medieval Bishop of Lichfield The Bishop of Lichfield is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Lichfield in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers 4,516 km2 (1,744 sq. mi.) of the c ...


People called Bert

*
Bert Abbey Bert Wood Abbey (November 11, 1869 – June 11, 1962) was a Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher. Amateur career After graduating from Vermont Academy in 1887, Abbey first began playing baseball as a freshman in college, when he recruited fellow s ...
(1869–1962), American baseball player * Bert Acosta (1895–1954), American aviator * Bert Adams (1891–1940), American baseball player *
Bert Adams (politician) Bert Anthony Adams (October 23, 1916 – February 3, 2003) was a decorated war veteran who served from 1956 to 1968 as a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Leesville in Vernon Parish in western Louisiana. Biog ...
(1916–2003), American politician *
Bert Addinall Albert William Addinall (30 January 1921 – May 2005) was an English professional footballer. He scored 92 goals from 222 games in the Football League playing for Queens Park Rangers, Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace as a centre forwa ...
(1921–2005), English professional footballer * Bert Anciaux (born 1959), Belgian politician and founder and former member of Spirit (later known as the Social Liberal Party, or SLP) *
Bert Assirati Bartolomeo "Bert" Assirati (9 July 1908 – 31 August 1990), was an English professional wrestler who became a multiple-time British Heavyweight Champion, and, posthumously, a charter member of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. H ...
(1908–1990), English professional wrestler * Bert Bell (1895–1959), National Football League commissioner * Bert Berns (1929–1967), American songwriter and record producer in the 1960s * Bert Blyleven (Aalbert) (born 1951), Dutch-born American baseball player *
Bert Bos Gijsbert (Bert) Bos (born 1963Gijsbert BosRapid user interface development with the script language Gist, Dissertation, Groningen University, 1993) is a computer scientist known for the development of Argo, a web browser he developed as test app ...
(Gijsbert) (born 1963), Dutch computer scientist working for W3C * Bert Brown, (1938–2018), Canadian politician * Bert Convy (Bernard) (1933–1991), American singer, actor and game show host * Bert Cunningham (1865–1952), American baseball player * Bert Haanstra (Albert) (1916–1997), Dutch film director * Bert Kaempfert (Bertolt) (1923–1980), German orchestra leader * Bert Koenders (Albert) (born 1958), Dutch politician * Bert Kreischer, (born 1972), American comedian * Bert Laeyendecker (1930–2020), Dutch sociologist * Bert Lahr (1895–1967), American actor and comedian *
Bert McCracken Robert Edward McCracken (born February 25, 1982) is an American singer who is the lead vocalist and songwriter of the rock band The Used. Early life McCracken was born in Provo, Utah, and grew up in Orem. He was raised in a Mormon family wit ...
(Robert) (born 1982), American lead singer of alternative band ''The Used'' * Bert van Marwijk (Lambertus) (born 1952), Dutch football player and coach * Bert Newton (Albert) (born 1938, died 2021), Australian entertainer and media personality * Bert Nievera (1936–2018), Filipino-American singer * Bert Parks (1914–1992), American actor, singer, host of Miss America from 1955 to 1979 * Bert Peters (composer) (18??–19??), American composer * Bert Peters (1908–1944), Australian rules footballer * Bert Sakmann (Bertold) (born 1942), German cell biologist, winner of the 1991 Nobel Prize for Medicine * Bert Schneider (1897–1986), Canadian Olympic champion welterweight boxer * Bert Stenfeldt (born 1933), Swedish Air Force major general * Bert Trautmann (Bernhard) (1923–2013), German football player *
Bert Vaux Bert Vaux (; born November 19, 1968, Houston, Texas) teaches phonology and morphology at the University of Cambridge. Previously, he taught for nine years at Harvard and three years at University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Vaux specializes in ph ...
(born 1968), American linguist * Bert Vogelstein (born 1949), American cancer researcher *
Bert Weckhuysen Bert Marc Weckhuysen FRSC (born 27 July 1968) is a professor of inorganic chemistry and catalysis at Utrecht University, originally from Belgian descent. Weckhuysen is best known for his developments in o''perando'' (micro)spectroscopy; imaging ...
(born 1968), Belgian chemist * Bert Wheeler (1895–1968), American comedian * Bert Williams (1874–1922), Bahamian-born American entertainer *
Bert Wipiti Bert Sam Wipiti, DFM (16 January 1922 – 3 October 1943) was a New Zealand fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War. Born in New Plymouth, he enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) in 1941 and when he was posted to No. ...
(1922–1943), New Zealand fighter pilot


As a surname

*
Joris Bert Joris Bert (born 16 May 1987), is a French baseball player who plays center field. He bats left and throws left. He is nicknamed "Frenchie" by his teammates. Biography He started playing baseball as a child when he arrived late to a soccer prac ...
(born 1987), French baseball player * Liliane Bert (1922–2015), French actress * Mabel Bert (née Mabel Scott, 1862–1???), Australian-American actress * Margaret Bert (1896–1971), British-American actress * Paul Bert (1833–1886), French physiologist


Fictional characters

*Albert "Bert" Sanders, a character in the 1997 television movie '' On the 2nd Day of Christmas'' played by Mark Ruffalo * Bert (Sesame Street), a Muppet character (of Bert and Ernie) on the long-running children's television show ''Sesame Street'' *Bert Barry, a Co-writer and producer of ''Pretty Lady'' on the Broadway musical play '' 42nd Street'' * Bert Ljung, a fictional character in the Bert diaries * Bert (Mary Poppins), a
Cockney Cockney is an accent and dialect of English, mainly spoken in London and its environs, particularly by working-class and lower middle-class Londoners. The term "Cockney" has traditionally been used to describe a person from the East End, or ...
chimney sweep in the book series and Disney film ''Mary Poppins''. Played in the film by Dick Van Dyke * Bert Raccoon, a lead character in TV series '' The Raccoons''


See also

*
Bart (disambiguation) Bart is a masculine given name and a surname, and as an acronym, most frequently refers to Bay Area Rapid Transit. Bart or BART may also refer to: Acronym * Best Available Retrofit Technology, review or rule required under the U.S. Clean Air Act ...
* Bert (disambiguation) *
Berth (disambiguation) Berth or berthing may refer to: Transport * Berthing, a cabin on a ship or train * Berthing (spacecraft), the placement of a spacecraft into a berthing mechanism through the use of a robotic arm * Berth (moorings) * Berth (sleeping) Other ...
* Birt (disambiguation) * Burt (disambiguation)


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bert (Name) French-language surnames English-language masculine given names Dutch masculine given names English masculine given names Surnames from given names