Bernatowicz surname? (I am starting to wonder if anyone in my family was American?)

So, yeah. Well I know that my family is Polish and all but I've heard alot of times that my surname is a mix of american and polish. From the things I found out are that my family definataly lived in America for about 2 decades. I am starting to wonder if anyone in my family was american? My surname is Bernatowicz, From what I can see the Bernat bit is actually germanic so probably the american part?

Decades or centuries?


Not sure people mixed names just like this. Many Polish people have names of Germanic origin.
So your name may just be Polish.

I understand but even my german uncle said "I cannot tell, it does sound germanic but it's modern counterpart is just confusing."

American as in native Indian?

Bernatowicz: first recorded in Poland in 1507, from first name Bernard which was first recorded in the 12 century, of Germanic origin from Bernhard: beren "bear" and hard "strong". The ending "wicz" is Polish and means "son of". Currently, 1172 people named Bernatowicz live in Poland.

Thanks

Merged: What country is my last name from? (I suppose Germany)

Hello may you identify my last name please?

[i][/i]Bernatowicz

It ends like a typical Polish surname but I have noticed that the Beggining starts with Bernat (German:Bernhard) Bern-Bear Hard-Strong so it maybe a German surname.

After alot of research every single result comes up with it's origin from Germany.

Please reply I am very fasctinated in my ancestors thanks,
And if this helps I am from Gorzow Wielkopolski (German: Landsberg an der Warthe)

Cheers!

The cross-pollination over the centuries between Polish and German, particularly as regards surnames, is insane! Half of German "-wicz" family names are of Polish proper or even of Polish-Jewish origins. Polish last names such as Sztarernberg or similar spellings are almost always German, sometimes also Jewish:-)

and the other half?

So my surname is from Germany?

Remember it isn't as simple as that. The borders changed many times. People (sometimes whole families, sometimes just one guy) moved from place to place, sometimes names changed.

Your surname is certainly Polish since it ends in -wicz, however it possibly has a German connection. The reason for that may well be lost to history.

Quite so. What with borders changing hands (both during war as well as peace time!) every so often, the Slavo-Germanic mixture is scarcely surprising. This includes also Jewish populations who naturally adopted the place names of the villages/shtettls in which they were living:-)

The other half might well be Czech, even Rumanian, i.e. Banat-Schwaebisch:-)

Which half? And that means my surname may be czech?

At this point, I definitely wouldn't rule out the option.

Yes but how is it going to be Ćzech? Every result shows German Origins?

Again, while it's most likely Polish, it could well have been morphed from some other related tongue! Names do get garbled, you know.

Plenty of Czech people have names that sound a bit German. Poles too.

As do many Scandinavians, even prior to the Vasa dynasty:-)

So tell me, all I wanted to know was a simple answer if my surname is German (OR NOT!) but all you guys start argueing YES OR NO?

No it's not. It's a Polish surname.

To make you even more confused I will add that I've heard that -icz ending is typical for polonized Lithuanians :) good luck in your further researches:)

It is typical for those who lived in what is now known as Belarus, which indeed until end of 18 century was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Well my grandfather was Lithuanian? But it sounds either Belarusian, Czech, Polish, Lithuanian, Ukrainainin (Sorry I cannot spell) or German

I thought you were American

I am not American I am a Brit and since I checked my family is from Germany. THE END

Merged: My surname roots? Bernatowicz

I've had this thread up a while ago but I'm still curious. My surname Bernat-Owicz sounds like a Polonized German or Deutsche surname, Bernat bit was probably Bernhard, the ending is a bit harder to work out but I am thinking like itz? Something like Bernharditz? I really need to know some history about my surname let me show glory! Plus my Grandad was half Belarusian or Lithuanian. But other than that I really need help!

Regards,

Bernat is French, though I have known Hungarian Jewish people with that name.

So it can be a mixture of both languages? My French teacher, which was French, told me that my Surname definitely sounds French. I love the French language and it's easy to learn, please reply as soon as possible. I really need to find out my ancestry.

Well, I made just a quick research and there might be a sudden twist. Bernatowicz was a surname of one of the oldest merchant families of Armenian roots, who primarily were living in the Red Ruthenia region wiki - they were nobilitated for some kind of wartime achievements(?), it is described in this bulletin on p.18: otk.armenia.pl/new/biuletyn-pdf/Biuletyn-11.pdf [in Polish - how well do you know the language?]

Here's the coat of arms they received, in color [bulletin has only b&w version]:
pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernatowicz_galicyjski
And for example another coat of arms, given in 1768 to Jakub Bernatowicz who, according to the bulletin, was a mayor and the last director of the Armenian courts in Lviv/Lwów:

pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernatowicz_-_odmiana_Tr%C4%85b_(herb_szlachecki)

There's never a 100% certainty but I thought this might be interesting to you - the surname might have some mixed Armenian/Ukrainian origins, of course Polonized.

Thanks a lot for your help I shall end this thread.

Do you think my family moved to Poland in the 1915 genocide and then got they'te surname polonized?