My surname

[timeforteasir]

Hey, I am new here and I am looking for help with my surname, Bernat-owicz, I know where it possibly is from but whether it's true or not I'm about to find out. Bernat came up in French, Scottish and even English sources. I know that the ending -owicz is actually Polish so can it be a Polinized British Surname?

[avm228]

Hi and welcome

It's not a name I am familiar with, but there's a fairly recent thread here:

www.polishforums.com/genealogy-ancestry-6/bernatowicz-surname-am-starting-wonder-anyone-family-was-68564/

in which a contributor says it has been in use in Poland for hundreds of years and derives from the Germanic name Bernhard.

Unless you have particular reason to think there are British roots to the name as it occurs in your family, I'd think it unlikely.

Do you know the family history of the generations immediately preceding you in your ancestral line?

[timeforteasir]

I have seen that post before but it really isn't helpful, are you suggesting Germanic origin for my surname? 

[avm228]

I'm not suggesting anything, but the explanation given on the linked website seems at least plausible so I don't understand why you think it is so unhelpful.

What is said there is that the Germanic given name "Bernhard" became used in Poland as "Bernard" and from that evolved the surname Bernatowicz.

Have you researched what the -owicz suffix means in Polish? Seems to be "son of" according to this website:

www.polishroots.org/Resources/SurnameSearch/Surnamesendings/tabid/118/Default.aspx

[timeforteasir]

Oh, so my surname is a Polonized version of a personal Germanic name Bernhard? 

[avm228]

I wouldn't say Polonized because the surname seems to be Polish in origin.

So the thinking would be that the first Bernatowicz would have been Polish, a son of "Bernard".

"Bernard" would have been able to trace his given name to the Germanic name "Bernhard" made up from the elements bern "bear" and hard "brave, hardy".


Logically it would be much the same as a Robertson in Britain.

The first Robertson was a son of Robert.  Robert is a long-established name which has been used in Britain for about 1000 years (long before inherited surnames came into use). Its roots are the Germanic elements hrod "fame" and beraht "bright".

 

[Ruskie]

It is difficult to know the origins of even some of the more common surnames with any certainty, so with surnames of European origin it is even more difficult. It can simply come down to best guesses.

If you trace your ancestry it may lead to some clues as to origin. Surnames are a relatively recent occurence and they have changed and developed over the centuries.

Something else you may like to consider is a DNA test which might give you clues as to where your family originated.

[timeforteasir]

Well I got the less common looks in Poland because I have Ginger hair, blue eyes etc, I look very much Germanic to the very last drop of blood I can assure you that I've got some sort of Germanic DNA in me. 

[elaine447]

Hi timeforteasir
Not many Bernat's in Scotland 
Putting the name Bernat into searches on Scotlands People
all counties and districts,
comes up with the following
OPR's,,,,1 birth,, 1704
Statutory births,, 5 between 1950 and 1980
OPR Marriages,, 1 marriage haven't worked out a date for that
statutory marriages,, 1 male
                              3 females
so relatively new they should still be on their honeymoon period.
Elaine