Type Surname (from location)
Usage French, English, Portuguese (Rare)
Other Forms FormsBetencourt, Bettencourtt, Bettencour, Bethancourt, Bettencourt, Bitencourt, Bittencourt, Betancur, Betancurt, Betancurth, Betancor, Bethcourt, Betancourt, Bitancurt, Betanco, Betencur
Meaning & History
Bettencourt and Bethencourt are originally place-names in Northern France. The place-name element -court (courtyard, courtyard of a farm, farm) is typical of the French provinces, where the Frankish settlements formed an important part of the local population. It translated the Old Low Franconian word *hof "courtyard", "courtyard of a farm", "farm" (Dutch, Old English Hof, German Hof).