A French, German and English surname, Bertrand is a form of the name ‘Bertram’ which comes from the Old German terms ‘berht’ and ‘hrabn’ which means a famous mythological raven. Such a bird was symbolic of those who can defeat their enemies. Spelling variations for Bertrand include Bhairtrand, Bertranc, Bertran, Bairtran and Bertrent. Most with the Bertrand name orientated from France, Belgium and Germany. Many immigrated from Europe to Canada. In England the counties of Essex, Kent, Sussex, Middlesex, Devon, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and the city of London have many citizens with the Bertrand name. In Scotland the Bertrand name is concentrated in Lanarkshire county. Within the United States the Bertrand name is found in Illinois, California, Louisiana, Michigan, Massachusetts and Minnesota. Famous: Cavalier Leon Bertrand (champion and professor of fencing in England), Louis Marie Bertrand (a French writer), John Raney Bertrand (president of the American College in Georgia) and Henri G. Bertrand (a French military engineer in the early 1800s).