Show ContentsBertram History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished family surname Bertram originated in the lands which eventually became the German state of Prussia. This state was known for its majestic landscape, its rapid industrial growth, its military power, and for its contributions to European culture. However, in the medieval era, Prussia was fragmented and inhabited by numerous barbarian tribes, who fought amongst themselves for control of the land. The borders of the barbarian kingdoms, which were established after the fall of the Roman Empire, changed repeatedly. The region that came to be known as Prussia was roughly divided between the territories of Brandenburg-Prussia, West Prussia and East Prussia. The Bertram family emerged in Brandenburg-Prussia, which is essentially the birthplace of modern Germany. By the 19th century, Brandenburg-Prussia had incorporated East Prussia, West Prussia and many other German territories. Moreover, in the late 19th century, it led the German states in the unification of Germany.

Early Origins of the Bertram family

The surname Bertram was first found in Prussia, where the name Bertram made a great early contribution to the feudal society of early Europe. The name Bertram became prominent in local affairs and branched into many houses where family members continued to play important roles in the savage tribal and national conflicts which resulted as each group sought to maximize its power and status in an ever changing territorial profile.

Early History of the Bertram family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bertram research. Another 191 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1686, 1687, 1716, 1739, 1789, 1792, 1823 and 1840 are included under the topic Early Bertram History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bertram Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Bertram include Bertram, Berttram, Bertramm, Bertrame, Bertramme, Berttramm, Berttrame, Bartram, Baertram, Barttram, Baerttram, Bartramm, Baertramm, Bartrame, Baertrame, Bartramme, Baertramme, Barttramm, Baerttramm, Barttrame and many more.

Early Notables of the Bertram family

Notable figures of the time with the name Bertram were

  • Court chancellor Constantin von Bertram ennobled in 1716
  • Adam Ludwig Bertram, Prussian government advisor ennobled in 1792

Bertram Ranking

In the United States, the name Bertram is the 3,960th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1


United States Bertram migration to the United States +

Much of German history has been shaped by the state of Prussia. It was an enduring military power until after the Second World War. At that time, the state was abolished altogether and its land divided between the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany. While some Prussians were content to remain in those countries, others moved away, many of them migrating to North America. They entered the United States mostly through Philadelphia, moving on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Others went to Canada, settling on the prairies and in the province of Ontario. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:

Bertram Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Jno. Bertram, who landed in Virginia in 1650 2
  • William Bertram, who arrived in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1669 2
Bertram Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jacob Bertram, who arrived in New York, New York in 1710
  • Jacob Bertram, who arrived in New York, NY in 1710 2
  • William Bertram, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1732
  • John Henry Bertram, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1773 2
  • Hans Henry Bertram, aged 19, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1776 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Bertram Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Andrew Bertram, aged 27, who landed in New York in 1812 2
  • John Bertram, aged 21, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1832 2
  • Jose Bertram, aged 25, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1837 2
  • Henry Bertram, who arrived in Missouri in 1845
  • H. Bertram, accompanied by his wife and five children, who arrived in New Orleans in 1845
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Bertram Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Joseph Bertram, (b. 1871), aged 34, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Kofa, Arizona, USA 3

Canada Bertram migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bertram Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Henry Bertram, who landed in Canada in 1820
  • William Bertram, who landed in Canada in 1820

Australia Bertram migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Bertram Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. George Bertram, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 3rd March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
  • Henry Julius Wilhelm Bertram, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lady Bute" in 1839 5
  • Caroline Bertram, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lady Bute" in 1839 5
  • Mr. Thomas Bertram, English convict who was convicted in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Bangalore" on 28th March 1848, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) from Bermuda 6
  • Helen Bertram, aged 34, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Medina" 7

New Zealand Bertram migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Bertram Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • A. Bertram, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Telegraph" in 1863

Contemporary Notables of the name Bertram (post 1700) +

  • Vedah Bertram (1891-1912), American actress
  • Dr. Christoph Bertram (b. 1937), German Director for the International Institute for Strategic Studies
  • Gunther Bertram, German fighter pilot and flying ace in the Luftwaffe, during World War II, credited with 35 aerial victories
  • Charles Bertram (1723-1765), or, as he sometimes chose to sign himself, Charles Julius, was the cleverest and most successful literary impostor of modern times; he started his life of forgery at the age of twenty-four 8
  • James Munro Bertram (1910-1993), Rhodes Scholar, journalist, writer, relief worker, prisoner of war and university professor
  • Charles Binning Bertram (1909-1976), Canadian artist, architectural innovator, and art educator
  • Laura Maureen Bertram (b. 1978), Canadian actress
  • Douglas Somerville Bertram (b. 1913), British Professor of Medical Entomology and Director of Department of Entomology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
  • Kate Bertram, British biologist, President, Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge, and a Justice of the Peace in Cambridgeshire
  • Anthony Bertram, British writer, and art historian
  • ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bismarck
  • Hans Bertram (1921-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 9


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/exmouth
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LADY BUTE 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839LadyBute.gif
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bangalore
  7. South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MEDINA 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/medina1852.shtml
  8. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 17 June. 2019
  9. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details


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