The suburb of Bronte, lies 2 inlets to the South of world famous Bondi Beach.

It has become a very fashionable [and expensive] suburb in the "trendy" Eastern Suburbs of Sydney.

Where does the word "Bronte" derive from?

The automatic reflex is to look for an English derivation for the name. Australians become aware of the Bronte sisters, for example, from a very young age.

That reveals only part of the story.

Yes, Bronte is located on Nelson Bay, and it does derive from Admiral Lord Nelson's title - the Duke of Bronte, given to him by the King of Sicily.
Although Robert Lowe built Bronte House, he always referred to it as "the house at Nelson Bay", never as Bronte House.



Most Hellenes will recognise the character Gus Portakolos, father of Toula, in the smash hit movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

To me he is a symbol of going "over the top" with the etymology of words - and ensuring that every word in the English dictionary - originally.... somehow.... someway...has a Hellenic origin.

I use "Gus" as a warning symbol that I am just about to "wax etymological".

The name Bronte, then, came from 'Vronti', in Italian, which came from the GREEK, 'Vronti'; and is the name of a town on the slopes of the volcano, Mount Etna.

It was the King of Sicily, you will recall, who conferred upon Lord Nelson, the title - the Duke of Bronti.

.... somehow.... someway....Hellenic


For the derivation of other [non-Hellenic] names in the shire of Waverley, see

http://www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/library/about/historical/names.htm