Brandt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

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The medieval duchy of Bavaria is the homeland of the Brandt 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 Brandt 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 Brandt 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 Brandt family

The surname Brandt 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 Brandt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brandt 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 Brandt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brandt Spelling Variations

Many 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 Brandt 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 Brandt family

Prominent among members of the name Brandt in this period include

Brandt World Ranking

In the United States, the name Brandt is the 1,078th most popular surname with an estimated 27,357 people with that name. 2 However, in France, the name Brandt is ranked the 6,539th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 3 And in Netherlands, the name Brandt is the 958th popular surname with an estimated 2,151 people with that name. 4 South Africa ranks Brandt as 885th with 7,856 people. 5


Brandt migration to the United States +

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 Brandt or a variant listed above:

Brandt Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Brandt Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Brandt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Brandt Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Brandt migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Brandt Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Brandt migration to Australia +

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

Brandt Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Brandt 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:

Brandt Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Brandt (post 1700) +
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