Surname Beehr - Meaning and Origin
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Beehr: What does the surname Beehr mean?
The last name Beehr is an anglicized version of the German name Buhr. It is believed to have originated in the Rhineland area of Germany, now part of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. This area is known for its great medieval castles and mining history.
The name Beehr is a habitational surname, which means it was taken on by people who lived in or near a place named Buhr. There are several places of this name within Germany, suggesting it is a relatively locatable last name.
The meaning of the name Beehr is linked to the German word "Buer", meaning "dear", and it is thought that the name was originally given as an affectionate term of endearment to someone who was from Buhr.
It is possible that the surname Beehr is derived from a profession too. In the German language, the word "Buhr" can also mean "ploughman". It is possible, then, that the Beehr surname is linked to someone with an agricultural background or even someone involved in the craft of plough-making.
Today, there are Beehrs living all over the world. It is not a particularly common surname, but it does have a large presence throughout all of Germany. It is also present in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Order DNA origin analysisBeehr: Where does the name Beehr come from?
The last name Beehr is quite rare today, but seems to be most common in Germany, the Netherlands, and other places in northern Europe. From the 19th century onwards, many individuals with this surname migrated to other parts of the world, such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
In the United States, Beehr is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, followed by Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa. As the country is made up primarily of immigrants who have integrated into the local culture, many individuals with the last name have assimilated and changed their name to Bier, Bears, Bihr, and Bihrle.
In Canada, Beehr is most commonly found in Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. As Canada is also a largely immigrant country, some individuals with this last name may have changed it to Beer, Beer, Bierhoff, and Bierman.
In Europe, Beehr is still fairly common in the Netherlands, Germany, and some parts of Belgium. The mean density in the Netherlands is 0.06%, while in Germany, the mean density is 0.17%.
Overall, the surname Beehr has slowly grown rarer over time as people have assimilated into different cultures, switched spelling variations, or even completely changed their names. Yet, it can still be found today in old European countries and those in North America, with populations far below what it was in the 19th century.
Variations of the surname Beehr
The surname Beehr is a nickname surname with Germanic origins, derived from the old German word “bir”, which translates to “bear”. It is mainly found in Germany and the United States, but can be found elsewhere in the world as well. Variants of the surname Beehr include Behr, Beher, Behre, Behere, Beach, Beacher, Becher, Becker, Bechner and Buhr. Other spellings of the name include Bayer, Behrman, Biher, Biehr, Biehler, Beecher, Bower, Boehmer, Boehr and Boehrer.
Surnames of the same origin, with varying spellings and variations, include Bair, Bier, Buhr, Buhl and Burger. Behm, Bohm, Baun, Baurn and Burn are some of the German variants of the surname. Biermann is another German derivative of Beehr. In some cases, the surname has also been transliterated to other languages from German, including Byer, Beiar, Bihr and Bajer in Yiddish, and Beeke and Boer in Dutch.
The variations of the surname Beehr indicate that it was widespread during the Middle Ages, perhaps as a form of occupational name or signifying social standing. Variants such as Becker and Bechner may have been used to denote a person who was a baker, while Buhl and Buhr may signify someone who was skilled at metalworking or metalworking-related trades. While the exact origin of the surname can be difficult to trace, its various spellings and surnames of the same origin lend insight into the historical context in which it was used.
Famous people with the name Beehr
- Robert Beehr: a German actor who has acted in multiple films and TV shows, including the popular Netflix series Dark.
- Ulrich Beehr: a German music producer who has worked on a wide variety of films and TV series.
- Emily Beehr: an American actress, writer, and producer who has appeared in films such as The Night Before and TV shows including It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
- Richard Beehr: an American voice actor who provided the voice of Professor Qwark in the Ratchet & Clank games.
- Josh Beehr: an Australian animator and director, who has directed cartoons such as Sonic the Hedgehog and The Powerpuff Girls.
- Denise Beehr: an American singer-songwriter, best known for her two-time Grammy nominated album Dreamin’ in Blue.
- Rachel Beehr: an American actress and singer, best known for her role as Kate Marsh in Life is Strange.
- Harry Beehr: a French movie director who has directed works such as The Dream of Flight and The Grandfather of Lies.
- Nick Beehr: a professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors.
- Mike Beehr: an American filmmaker and writer, who has written and directed films like The Red challenged Wolf and Push.