Meaning and history
Berthold is a German masculine name from Germanic elements beraht, “bright” or “famous,” and wald, “rule” or “power,” giving the sense “bright ruler.” It was common among medieval German nobles, bishops, and saints. Berthold of Regensburg was a celebrated thirteenth-century preacher, while Berthold Schwarz is a partly legendary figure associated with gunpowder. Notable modern bearers include German sculptor Berthold Löffler and physicist Berthold-Georg Englert.