Type Surname (from location)
Usage French, English, Portuguese (Rare)
Other Forms FormsBetencourt, Bettencourtt, Bettencour, Betancourt, Bethancourt, Bethencourt, Bitencourt, Bittencourt, Betancur, Betancurt, Betancurth, Betancor, Bethcourt, Betancourt, Bitancurt, Betanco, Betencur, Bitangcur, Bitangcor, Bitangcol, Vitangcol
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).