Surname Bernatova - Meaning and Origin

Bernatova: What does the surname Bernatova mean?

The last name Bernatova is a Czech-Slovak surname derived from the first name Bernat/Bernard, which became popular among both Catholic and Jewish families in Central Europe during the Middle Ages.

The name Bernat itself is derived from the Germanic bern, meaning “bear” or “bold, strong”. Over time, the name changed in spelling and pronunciation, with Bernatova being the feminine variant.

People with this last name are believed to come from the ancient nobility of Bohemia and Moravia (now part of the Czech Republic), where they originally served as stewards and prominent landowners.

Given the strong connection of the name to wealthy landholding families, it may also carry with it connotations of respect and aristocracy. In modern times, this surname continues to carry an air of aristocratic distinction.

Bernatova is not a particularly common surname, but those who do bear it often take a great sense of pride in the history the name provides. It has even been used as part of the personal name of UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Ester Bernatova, a dedicated advocate of refugee rights.

Bernatova: Where does the name Bernatova come from?

The last name Bernatova is most commonly found in central Europe. Specifically, countries such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Serbia, and Bulgaria are where the name has the highest prevalence. In these countries, the spelling of the name may vary slightly due to local language and orthography – for example, in Poland it is spelled as Bernatów, in Russia as Bernatov, and in Serbia and Croatia as Bernatović.

The name is derived from the name Bernard, which is derived from the Germanic name Bernhard, meaning "brave as a bear". It first appears in records in Bohemia as early as 1317, when a man called Neklan Bernat of Turnow was recorded.

The surname increased in popularity throughout the 19th and 20th centuries due to population growth. It is estimated that there are over 96,000 people with Bernatova last name living in Europe today.

The greatest concentrations of Bernatova surname holders live in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Ukraine. For instance, according to the Czech Statistical Office, in 2015, there were 8,068 people with the last name registered in the Czech Republic. The name is also quite widely represented in the US, with approximately 3,000 people with the last name listed in the 2010 census.

Variations of the surname Bernatova

The surname Bernatova is derived from the Slavic name Bernat and is used in several variants or spellings across Europe. Variants include Burnat, Bernatowicz, Bernatowich, Bernatowichow, Bernatwicz, Bernatowicz, Bernatovich, Bernaty, Bernatti, Bernatovich, Berndtindt, Berendt, Berendtin, Bernatowicz, Bernatovitch, Bernatte, BernatWolf, and Bernabeu.

The term Bernatova also has roots in various Jewish and Slavic languages. In Jewish tradition, the name is derived from the word “berit” or “berat”, which refers to a covenant or pact. It also has strong connotations to the word “shul” which means synagogue. In many of the countries where the surname is used, such as the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, and Hungary, the name has strong Slavic links with the Slavic term “Berendt” which is an old form of the name.

The surname Bernatova is most established in the Czech Republic,where it is most commonly used by families of Czech origin, while it is also well-established in Poland where it is most commonly used by families of Polish descent. It is also present in Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and other parts of Europe.

In some countries such as the United States, the name may be a derivative of the similar surname Bernatile or Bernatte, which were very popular and widely used among immigrants coming from Eastern and Central European countries during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Those immigrants included Ukrainians, Poles, Russians, Jews, Czechs, Hungarians, and Slovaks.

In some cases, the name Bernatova may also be derived from the Germanic name Bernold, which means bold as a bear or brave in battle.

The surname Bernatova continues to persist in many parts of the world, and its variations and derivatives are still used in many countries today, ranging from Poland and the Czech Republic to the United States.

Famous people with the name Bernatova

• Jana Bernatová: a Czech-born, German-based figure skater who has competed in the European Championships since 2012.
• Nadia Bernatová: Czech sprint athlete with championships titles in several international competitions.
• Milan Bernatová: Czech film and television producer and director.
• Ivan Bernatov: Russian chess Grandmaster.
• Zuzana Bernatová: Czech eventer who has had success in international competitions.
• Malina Bernatová: Czech cyclist who has represented her country in multiple international races.
• Vít Bernatová: Czech tennis player and former top-ranked junior in the Czech Republic.
• David Bernatová: Czech visual artist specializing in painting and photography.
• Lenka Bernatová: Czech poet and essayist.
• Peter Bernatová: former Czechoslovakian/Slovakian football midfielder.

Other surnames

Bernatovic