Surname Bern - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Bern: What does the surname Bern mean?
The surname Bern is generally thought to have originated in the Canton of Bern, located in the western part of Switzerland. It has since spread across Europe and is found in many countries around the world today.
The name is believed to have originally been a patronymic form of the name Bernhard. This name is derived from the Germanic elements bern "bear" and hard "brave, hardy or strong". So this surname likely originated as a nickname given to an ancestor who displayed qualities of strength and bravery, much like a bear.
Today, the surname Bern is most common in Switzerland where it is the 48th most popular name. It is also prevalent in Spain, and ranks 52nd in popularity there. It has spread to the United States where it currently ranks 4,300th in popularity.
In both Switzerland and Spain, the surname is associated with an old family of prominent citizens. Berns have held prestigious political positions in various European countries, though this is mainly in historic references. Today, anecdotal references to the name can be found in the music, literature, and art scenes.
In summary, the surname Bern is most closely associated with its origins in the Canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is a patronymic form of the name Bernhard, which likely originates as a nickname given to an ancestor who had strong and brave qualities akin to that of a bear. It is most popular in Switzerland and Spain, but can be found in many countries in the world today. It is turned up in various contexts in literature, music, and art, but is most prevalent as a historical reference to prominent citizens with the surname.
Order DNA origin analysisBern: Where does the name Bern come from?
The last name Bern is most commonly found in Switzerland, Germany, and the United States. It’s an old German surname that originated from the Bern region in Switzerland, and it’s also an English surname. It is believed to have been brought to the US by German immigrants in the 1700s and 1800s.
In Switzerland the last name Bern is most commonly found in the canton of Bern, which is the second most populous canton after Zurich. In Germany, the regions with the highest concentration of people with the surname Bern are Rheinland-Pfalz and Bavaria.
In the United States, the last name Bern is most common in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nebraska, and Missouri. Though it’s not as popular in the United States as it is in Switzerland and Germany, it’s still a regular sight on phone books and public records.
Overall, the last name Bern is most concentrated in Switzerland, Germany, and the United States, and it can be found in many other countries, including Canada, France, England, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Bern
The Bern surname has several possible variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Bern can be spelled as Bärn, Beirne, Beirnes, Beirn, Beirns, and Beyrn.
Variant surnames of Bern include Beirne, Bairn, Barn, Bärns, Beirns, Bairns, Barnes, Beirnis, Barns, Byren, Byrnes, Beyrns.
Another surname that is relatively similar to the Bern surname is the German name Baer. It may also appear as a variant of Bern, although some may argue that they are two distinct surnames.
Bygne, Byrun, Bärun, and Beirun are all other assumed variants of the Bern surname. Those with the surname Beyer are likely of the same ancestry, as it was initially a nickname for someone who hailed from Bern.
The Byrnes surname is another variant of Bern. It is possible that the Byrnes surname was derived from the surname Byrne, which is derived from the Old Irish word “Ó Broin”.
The surname Bern is fairly common, and its variants. spellings, and surnames of the same origin can be found all over Europe and the United States.
Famous people with the name Bern
- Charlotte Bern: German visual artist and illustrator
- Irina Bern: Russian figure skater
- Jackie Bern: American actress
- Jonathan Bern: French actor
- Jonas Bern: German actor
- Lorraine Bern: Canadian artist
- Mary Bern: American environmental activist
- Patch Bern: American rapper
- Peter Bern: Swiss professional footballer
- Robert Bern: American author
- Sharon Bern: American film editor
- Stefan Bern: German filmmaker
- Sune Bern: Swedish landscape painter
- Tracey Bern: American producer and screenwriter
- Tobias Bern: Swedish-German actor