Surname Bernhard - Meaning and Origin
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Bernhard: What does the surname Bernhard mean?
The last name Bernhard is one of Germanic origin. It is derived from the name Bernhard which is a combination of two elements—bern, which means bear, and hard, which means brave or hardy. The name was traditionally given to brave, strong-willed individuals, and was adopted as a family name by Germanicized Celts in the Middle Ages.
In Germany, Bernhard is often associated with royalty since it was borne by several medieval German rulers, including the Emperor Bernhard of Carinthia (1053–1112) and his son, Bernhard of Saxe-Lauenburg (1168–1266). It was also the chosen name of the first king of Bavaria who is remembered for unifying Bavaria in the wake of the nation's 18th century wars of independence.
In modern times, the name Bernhard has gained increased usage in the United States due to immigrants who have brought the name to America from Europe. In the US, Bernhard has charms of its own, as it is seen as a name that carries a special nobility and strength of character given its Germanic origins.
Order DNA origin analysisBernhard: Where does the name Bernhard come from?
The last name Bernhard is derived from Bernard/Bernhard, which is an old Germanic name composed of the elements bern, meaning "bear," and hard, meaning "brave or hardy."
Today, the name Bernhard is fairly common in various European countries. In France, the surname of Bernhard is prevalent throughout the country, and, in particular, is found frequently in the département of Haute-Garonne. In the Netherlands, the Bernhard variant is especially common in the province of Utrecht. In Italy, the last name of Bernhard is especially popular in the region of Lombardy.
The name Bernhard is also common in Scandinavia, where it is especially prevalent in Sweden and Finland. In Sweden, the name Bernhard is especially found in the counties of Stockholm and Västra Götaland.
It is also fairly common in English-speaking countries, particularly the United States and Canada. While the variant of Bernhard is used more commonly in Europe, many American families spell the name as "Bernard." The last name Bernard has been in the United States since the early colonists, when it was introduced to the New World from England. The variant of Bernhard has been in the USA since the 19th century.
In terms of popularity, the name Bernhard ranks 786 for boys' first names and 1085 for surnames in the United States. It is also a popular Jewish surname, ranking in the top 5% of all Jewish surnames.
Variations of the surname Bernhard
The surname Bernhard has several different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include:
Bernhardt: The most common variation of this surname, it is simply the German spelling of Bernhard.
Barnhardt: Another German variant of Bernhard, this spelling is less common but still not unusual.
Bernhardi: This is a rare spelling of Bernhard, mostly seen in Austria and Germany.
Bernhardsson: This is the Swedish variant of Bernhard and is not seen too often.
Burnhardt: An uncommon spelling of Bernhard typically used in the United States and other English-speaking countries.
Bernharde: This is another rare spelling of Bernhard, mostly seen in Germany.
Bernhardy: An unusual variant of Bernhard, most commonly seen in Germany and Austria.
Burnard: A rare name in the United States and English-speaking countries, this is an alternate spelling of Bernhard.
Beinhard: This unusual variant of Bernhard is mostly seen in Austria and Germany.
Bernhardtus: This is the Latin form of Bernhard and is fairly unusual.
Burnhard: This is a variant of Bernhard that is more common in some English-speaking countries.
Bernhart: A rare form of Bernhard, this is mostly seen in Austria and Germany.
Burnhardus: A Latinized version of Bernhard, this is not seen very often.
The variations of this surname are not exclusive to just German-speaking countries. Variations of Bernhard have been seen in countries around the world, such as the United States, Austria, Sweden, and the Netherlands. In addition, other surnames derived from Bernhard are "Bernhardt" and "Bernhart" as well as uncommon ones such as "Beinhard" or "Bernhardy".
Famous people with the name Bernhard
- Sandra Bernhard: American actress, comedian, singer, and author
- Jerry Bernhard: Norwegian singer/songwriter
- Gene Bernhard: American artist
- Adolf Bernhard Marx: German musicologist and composer
- Tim Bernhard: American race car driver
- Anselm Feuerbach: German painter
- Rachel Bernhard: German actress and singer
- Ted Bernhard: American comedian and actor
- Georg Bernhard: German historical painter
- Blanche Bernhard: Canadian artist and sculptor