Brandts History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe medieval duchy of Bavaria is the homeland of the Brandts family. Two of the common types of family names found in medieval Bavaria were patronymic surnames, which were derived from the father's given name, and metronymic surnames, which were derived from the mother's given name. In Germany, patronymic names were much more frequently derived from common, Germanic, given names than they were from those baptismal names honoring Christian saints. The family name Brandts is a patronymic surname that comes from the Germanic personal name Brando, a short form of the various compound personal names containing the element brand, which means sword or fire. The name may also be a short-form of an old Germanic name such as Brandhart ("fire-strong"), Brandoalt ("fire-powerful", or Hildebrand ("sword-fire"). In many cases, the surname Brandts also derives from a first name, which is shortened from first names such as Hildebrand, Brandhart or Brandold. Brand was a popular short form of Hildebrand in N Germany. 1 Alternatively, the name could have referred to a former resident of one of the multiple localities named Brand. There are thirty-nine villages and towns with the name of Brand in the southern German province of Bavaria alone. A settlement was named Brand usually if it came to be built in an area which had been cleared by fire. Early Origins of the Brandts familyThe surname Brandts was first found in Bavaria, where the family came from humble beginnings but gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging mediaeval society. Some of the first records of this name or one of its variants is Ulrich Brant who was a cloth-maker in 1276 and Waltherus de Brant, who was a farmer zu Regensdorf in 1280. A shopkeeper Brand was listed in Stettin in 1351 and his sons Brand and Brand. As a forename, Brand Krekenoghe was found in Hanover in 1407. 1 Early History of the Brandts familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brandts research. Another 113 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1457, 1517, 1521, 1570, 1626, 1685, 1735, 1778 and 1799 are included under the topic Early Brandts History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Brandts Spelling VariationsMany cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Brandts include Brand, Brande, Brandde, Brannde, Brandt, Brandte, Brandtes, Brandtte, Brant, Brante, Brend, Brende, Brendde, Brent, Brendt, Braend, Braende, Braendde, Braennde, Braent, Braendt, Brandes, Brandis and many more. Early Notables of the Brandts familyProminent among members of the name Brandts in this period include Sebastian Brant (1457-1521), who was known for his long poems, such as "The Ship of Fools"; Jobst Brandt...
Between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries, German settlers arrived in North America by the thousands. Persecution based on religion and poverty were great motivators in this large-scale migration. So too was the opportunity for tenant farmers to own their own land. Ample land and opportunity awaited the settlers who went to such states as Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, as well as Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Brandts or a variant listed above: Brandts Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
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