berht

Berht is an Old English masculine given-name element meaning “bright” or “famous,” derived from the Proto-Germanic root *berhtaz. In Old English texts the element appears in various compound names and is commonly rendered as Beorht-, Berht-, or Bert- in later transcriptions. It was a popular building block for personal names across Anglo-Saxon England and was used by both ecclesiastical and secular leaders.

Notable historical bearers include Berhtwald (also spelled Beorhtwald), who served as Archbishop of Canterbury in the late 7th century. The Berht- element occurs in other Anglo-Saxon names as well, appearing in both royal and saintly lineages and in hagiographic contexts. The exact forms and spellings varied with manuscript traditions, but the underlying meaning remained consistent, reflecting a common Germanic naming habit that prized brightness, fame, and auspicious connotations.

In later periods, the Berht element survived as part of longer names in various Germanic languages and left traces in modern onomastics through cognate forms and surname derivations. While the standalone name Berht is no longer in regular use, its legacy persists in historical records, scholarly discussions of Old English onomastics, and the way Germanic name elements influenced later naming patterns.