Surname Barents - Meaning and Origin
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Barents: What does the surname Barents mean?
The last name Barents has Dutch and German origins. It originally was a patronymic name, meaning "son of Barent," and is derived from the personal name Barent, which was a variant of the Norse-Viking name Berend, which in turn is a version of the German Berghend, which means "firm-protector."
The first known bearers of the surname Barents were Sea-trading merchants from the Netherlands who traded with the newly found Russian lands during the 17th century. Other variants of the last name include Barants, Barentse, Barentson, Barnts, and Barentsz.
The Barents family is most famous for the Arctic region discovered by the Dutch navigator Willem Barents who had accepted the challenge of discovering the Northern Sea Route in 1594. Because of his life-threatening tales of his travels, he was very famous in his day, and many of the over fifty species of animals and plants found in the Barents Sea are named after him, including the Barents Sea Cod. The Barents Sea Eco Region is also named after him, and it is home to a number of important animal species like the walrus, polar bear, narwhal, and beluga.
Throughout the centuries, the Barents family has been a part of many scientific, medical, and other important explorations around the Arctic region. It is a recognizable name in the Netherlands and Russia, and the modern Barents are proud of their unique family name and the proud legacy it carries.
Order DNA origin analysisBarents: Where does the name Barents come from?
The last name Barents is most common in the Netherlands, Scandinavia, and Germany. Barents is an occupational name derived from the Dutch word “baron”, meaning baron or leader, and was initially used to refer to a nobleman or leader of some kind. It is most commonly found in the northern and central parts of the Netherlands, the north of Germany, and throughout Scandinavia, particularly Norway and Sweden.
In the Netherlands, the most popular cities where the Barents surname can be found include Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht. In Germany, Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Leipzig are the cities in which the name is commonly found. In Scandinavia, Barents is most regularly encountered in cities such as Stockholm, Oslo, and Copenhagen.
The surname has become popular enough for many Dutch, German, and Scandinavian people to bear it without any historical connections, though some may trace their ancestry back to Dutch, German, and Scandinavian nobility in centuries past. In the Netherlands and Germany, the name is typically found among artisans, merchants, and other skilled tradespeople – those who would have been among the governing class in centuries prior.
Outside of Europe, the Barents name is most commonly encountered in Canada, the United States, and Australasia, as Dutch, German, and Scandinavian immigrants brought their name to these countries in past centuries.
Variations of the surname Barents
The surname Barents has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Barents is a surname of Dutch origin. It derives from the given name Bernard or Barent, which was popular among 17th century Dutch settlers in America.
The most common variants of Barents are Barentse, Barentz, Barentsz, Barentzen, and Barentson. Barentsen is a variant found primarily in the Netherlands. The alternative spelling Bernts is also commonly found.
The most common surnames derived from Barents are Barentas, Barentsen, Barentson, Barentz, and Berentz. Barentzen and Barentsz are also derived from Barents.
Other less common variants and spellings include Barent, Barentsen, Barentts, Barrents, and Berntzen.
The surnames Van Barents and Van Barentse are Dutch names, indicating someone descended from someone called Barent or Barentse.
The names Barnet and Banet, which are both of Anglo-Norman origin, may be variants of Barents. In some cases, the spelling Barents may have been anglicized from these other names.
In summary, Barents has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, including Barentse, Barentz, Barentsz, Barentzen, Barentson, Bernts, Barentas, Barentsen, Barentson, Barentz, Berentz, Barent, Barentts, Barrents, Berntzen, Van Barents, Van Barentse, Barnet, and Banet.
Famous people with the name Barents
- Willem Barentsz: Dutch navigator of the early 17th century who is also known as William Barents or William Barentsz. He was one of the first European explorers to reach the far north eastern part of Russia and the first recorded explorer to venture across the Barents Sea.
- Jacob Barentsz:Dutch explorer and navigator who explored the large lake area in the Upper Kama region of Siberia during the early to mid 17th century. He was the first European to characterize the hydrological system of the area and the first to complete a large-scale map of the area.
- Pieter Gerritsz van Roestraten: Dutch artist who painted several portraits of Willem Barents and some of his fellow explorers during the 16th century. He is believed to be the first to have documented the voyages of Willem Barents in the far north.
- Jan Bacx: Dutch ambassador to Great Britain, who lived in the late 16th: early 17th century. He was the first ambassador to represent the Dutch Republic in the courts of King James I and King Charles I.
- Jan Barentsz: Dutch illustrator and engraver who documented Willem Barents' travels in the early 17th century. He is best known for his woodcut illustrations in the book ships De Veerdam and De Grave which recorded the famous Arctic expedition of William Barents.
- Christina Barent: Belgian artist who creates paintings influenced by the work of Jan Barentsz and Willem Barents.
- Pieter Dirkszoon Barentsz: Dutch author who wrote a biography of Willem Barents in 1654 which was published by the Dutch East India Company. His book focused both on Willem's life and his exploration of the far north.