UK surname
German surname meaning "bright, shining".
In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Bert surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 93, ranked #31,945, down from #20,965 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Petherton, South, London parishes and Corfe Mullen. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bert is 404 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.3%.
1881 census count
90
Ranked #20,965
Modern count
93
2016, ranked #31,945
Peak year
1861
404 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bert surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bert surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 190 | #10,852 |
| 1861 | historical | 404 | #6,354 |
| 1881 | historical | 90 | #20,965 |
| 1891 | historical | 373 | #9,367 |
| 1901 | historical | 218 | #14,332 |
| 1911 | historical | 281 | #11,953 |
| 1997 | modern | 30 | #34,701 |
| 1998 | modern | 38 | #34,066 |
| 1999 | modern | 41 | #33,866 |
| 2000 | modern | 35 | #34,420 |
| 2001 | modern | 28 | #34,936 |
| 2002 | modern | 35 | #34,554 |
| 2003 | modern | 31 | #34,957 |
| 2004 | modern | 29 | #35,270 |
| 2005 | modern | 33 | #35,119 |
| 2006 | modern | 36 | #35,131 |
| 2007 | modern | 39 | #35,097 |
| 2008 | modern | 46 | #34,759 |
| 2009 | modern | 53 | #34,481 |
| 2010 | modern | 66 | #33,791 |
| 2011 | modern | 55 | #34,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 62 | #34,155 |
| 2013 | modern | 69 | #33,808 |
| 2014 | modern | 77 | #33,336 |
| 2015 | modern | 80 | #33,052 |
| 2016 | modern | 93 | #31,945 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Petherton, South, London parishes, Corfe Mullen, Lambeth and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Petherton, South | Somerset |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Corfe Mullen | Dorset |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bert surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bert, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Bert surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bert household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Bert is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bert is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bert, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BERT originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Germanic name Bert or Berht, which means "bright" or "illustrious." The name was likely brought to France by Frankish settlers in the early medieval period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the BERT surname appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Bertram" in this document.
In the 12th century, the surname BERT can be found in various French records and documents. For example, a knight named Renaud Bert is mentioned in a chronicle of the Crusades from 1148.
During the Middle Ages, the BERT surname was also associated with several place names in France, such as Bertaucourt, Berthenay, and Bertholon. These place names likely derived from individuals with the BERT surname who owned or resided in those areas.
One of the earliest known individuals with the BERT surname was Pierre Bert, a French scholar and philosopher who lived from 1126 to 1191. He was a prominent figure in the intellectual circles of Paris during the 12th century.
Another notable BERT was Jean Bert, a French explorer and navigator who participated in several expeditions to the New World in the 16th century. He was born in 1520 and is believed to have died around 1580.
In the 17th century, Jacques Bert, a French playwright and poet, gained recognition for his works. He was born in 1630 and died in 1706.
The BERT surname also has a connection to the French aristocracy. Louis Bert, born in 1720, was a French nobleman and military officer who served in the armies of Louis XV.
During the 19th century, Paul Bert, a French physiologist and politician, made significant contributions to the fields of science and public service. He was born in 1833 and died in 1886.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bert surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 22 Berts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.75x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 22 | 2.75x |
| Yorkshire | 11 | 1.39x |
| Staffordshire | 8 | 2.96x |
| Hampshire | 5 | 3.05x |
| Sussex | 5 | 3.71x |
| Kent | 4 | 1.47x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.42x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.03x |
| Berkshire | 2 | 3.33x |
| Leicestershire | 2 | 2.26x |
| Renfrewshire | 2 | 3.23x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 1.35x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 2.41x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 1.10x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.80x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.60x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.63x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.72x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 3.05x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.81x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 2.02x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.78x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.50x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.96x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 7 Berts recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.03x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bert surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bert surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Bert households.
FAQ
In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Bert surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 93 in 2016. That gives Bert a modern rank of #31,945.
German surname meaning "bright, shining".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bert bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.