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Origin of the Surname Barthem
The surname Barthem presents a geographical distribution that, according to available data, shows a significant presence in Brazil, with an incidence of 25%, and a minor presence in France and the United States, with 1% in each. This distribution suggests that the surname has roots that could be related to Spanish-speaking regions, especially considering the high incidence in Brazil, a country with a colonial and migratory history that has favored the spread of certain surnames of Iberian origin. The presence in France and the United States, although much smaller, could reflect later migratory processes, such as European and Latin American population movements in the 19th and 20th centuries. The concentration in Brazil, in particular, may indicate an origin in the Iberian Peninsula, probably in Spain or Portugal, from where it could have expanded during periods of colonization and migration to America. The current distribution, therefore, allows us to infer that the surname probably has an Iberian origin, with a greater probability in Spain, given that the incidence in Brazil may be related to Portuguese colonization or to later migrations of Spanish origin. The presence in France and the United States, to a lesser extent, reinforces the hypothesis of a modern expansion linked to international migratory movements. In summary, the current geographical distribution of the Barthem surname suggests an origin in the Iberian Peninsula, with a significant expansion towards Brazil, and a residual presence in countries in Europe and North America, probably the result of migrations and colonization.
Etymology and Meaning of Barthem
The surname Barthem seems to be related to an abbreviated or variant form of a compound name of Germanic or Latin origin, given its similarity to other patronymic surnames that contain the element "Bart-", derived from the name "Bartholomé" or "Bartolomé". The root "Bart-" is common in surnames of Germanic and Latin origin, and is generally associated with the proper name "Bartholomé", which in turn comes from the Aramaic "Bar-Talmay", meaning "son of Talmay" or "son of the brave". The ending "-hem" in the surname may be a form of phonetic or regional adaptation, which in some cases may be related to suffixes used in surnames of Germanic origin or in regional dialects of northern Europe, or even in regions of Basque or Galician-Portuguese influence. However, since the form "Barthem" is not very common in traditional variants of the name "Bartholomé", it could be a regional form or a spelling variant that developed in a specific context, possibly in Brazil or in regions where phonetic adaptations are common. The structure of the surname can therefore be classified as patronymic, derived from a proper name, in this case, a shortened or modified form of "Bartholomé". The presence of the element "Bart-" indicates a possible relationship with the given name, and the suffix "-hem" could be a regional adaptation or a form of patronymic indicating descent or membership. In conclusion, etymologically, "Barthem" is probably related to the name "Bartolomé", with a possible phonetic or regional adaptation that gave rise to this particular form, and which is classified as a patronymic surname of Iberian origin, with roots in the proper name.
History and Expansion of the Surname
The analysis of the current distribution of the surname Barthem suggests that its most probable origin is in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in Spain or Portugal, given that these countries have historically been the main centers of dissemination of patronymic surnames derived from religious names or saints, as is the case of "Bartolomé". The presence in Brazil, with a significant incidence, can be explained by the Portuguese colonization processes and the internal and external migrations that occurred from the 16th century onwards. The expansion of the surname to Brazil probably occurred during the periods of colonization, when many Spaniards and Portuguese migrated to America in search of new opportunities, taking with them their surnames and cultural traditions. The presence in France and the United States, although smaller, may be related to later migrations, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries, when European and Latin American migrations increased considerably. The dispersion of the surname in these countries may also reflect processes of integration and cultural adaptation, where orthographic and phonetic variants were adjusted to local languages and dialects. TheCurrent distribution, with a high incidence in Brazil, indicates that the surname may have arrived there in the context of Portuguese colonization, or through Spanish migrations in later times. The expansion of the surname may also be linked to internal migratory movements in Brazil, where families with this surname settled in different regions, consolidating their presence. In Europe, the presence in France may be due to migratory movements or cultural and historical proximity to the Iberian Peninsula, facilitating the spread of the surname in border or nearby regions. In summary, the history of the Barthem surname reflects a process of Iberian origin, with expansion through colonization and migration, mainly to Brazil, and a residual presence in Europe and North America, the result of international migratory movements.
Variants of the Surname Barthem
As for the variants and related forms of the surname Barthem, it is likely that there are different spellings and regional adaptations, given the characteristics of migration and linguistic evolution. A likely variant would be "Bartolhem" or "Bartolhem", which would reflect a phonetic adaptation in different Spanish-speaking or Lusophone regions. It is also possible that forms such as "Barthem" or "Barthemé" have been found in some historical records or ancient documents, depending on transcription and the influence of local languages. In other languages, especially French, a similar form could exist, such as "Barthème", which would be an adaptation of the proper name "Barthélemy" or "Barthélemo", related to "Bartholomé". Furthermore, in migration contexts, the surname could have been modified to conform to the phonetic and orthographic rules of the receiving country, giving rise to variants such as "Barthem" or "Barthemé". In relation to related surnames, those containing the element "Bart-" or "Barth-", such as "Bartholomé", "Barthélemy" or "Barthelemy", share common roots and could be considered variants or surnames originating from the same given name. Phonetic and orthographic adaptation in different regions can explain the existence of these variants, which reflect migratory history and the influence of different languages and cultures on the evolution of the surname.
