Show ContentsBernardes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Portuguese surname Bernardes is of patronymic origin, derived from the first name of the father and literally meant "(son) of Bernard". The forename Bernhard is an old German name composed of the elements "ber(n)" which means "bear" and "hard" which means "brave, strong, courageous."

Its popularity as a Christian name is largely due to the two saints of this name, St. Bernard of Menthon (d.1081), popularly known as the patron saint of mountaineers, who founded the Alpine hospices and whose name has been given to the dogs used to look for lost travelers, and the French St. Bernard of Clairvaux (c. 1090-1153), churchman and mystic who became the most powerful influence in France, and later, in all Western Europe.

Early Origins of the Bernardes family

The surname Bernardes was first found in Portugal where "a family so-called of nobles existed already in time of Kings D. Afonso V and D. Joao II, living in Ponte from Lima. Many were Minho nobility and a branch of Bernardes de Obidos, and Heitor Bernardes Botado, people of great value and great spirits, including Manso de Lima, who was a warrior genius; he went to serve the Emperor Charles V. He returned to Portugal and, getting married, gave rise to Bernardes Botados." 1

Early History of the Bernardes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bernardes research. Another 102 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1008, 1010, 1091, 1153, 1346, 1438, 1481, 1530, 1578, 1596, 1644 and 1743 are included under the topic Early Bernardes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bernardes Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Bernardo, Bernardes, Bernardi, Bernardino, Bernhard, Bernhardt, Bernhart, Barnhard, Barnhardt and many more.

Early Notables of the Bernardes family

Prominent members of the family include

  • Others include: Manuel Bernardes, Portuguese religious leader, born in 1644 and Joao Bernardes de Castillo, religious leader born in 1743, also Portuguese


Contemporary Notables of the name Bernardes (post 1700) +

  • Rogério Bernardes (b. 1964), Portuguese bobsledder in the four man event at the 1988 Winter Olympics
  • André Filipe Bernardes Santos (b. 1989), Portuguese professional footballer
  • Adriano Bernardes Rodrigues da Silva (b. 1986), known as Adriano Rodríguez or Adriano Bernardes, a Brazilian professional footballer
  • Arthur Bernardes Ribas da Silva Filho (b. 1955), Brazilian professional football, currently in charge of Tapajós
  • Fátima Gomes Bernardes (b. 1962), Brazilian journalist and TV host
  • Leandro Rodrigues Bernardes (b. 1985), Brazilian futsal player
  • Artur Filipe Bernardes Moreira (b. 1984), known simply as Arturis, a Portuguese professional footballer
  • Sergio Henrique Savoia Bernardes (b. 1973), former Brazilian football player
  • Fátima Bernardes (b. 1962), Brazilian journalist and TV presenter
  • Edmar Bernardes dos Santos (b. 1960), known simply as Edmar, a Brazilian silver medalist footballer at the 1988 Summer Olympics
  • ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. De Faria, Antonio Machado. Armorial lusitano: genealogia e heráldica. Lisboa, 1961. Print


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