Show ContentsBaar History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Baar

What does the name Baar mean?

The surname Baar evolved in the ancient German province of Bavaria. It may be a nickname, a style of hereditary surname that developed out of the traditional German "eke-names," that identified people by naming them after a physical characteristic or other identifiable trait. Baar may be a name for a person who was short and stout, as the name was derived from the Latin word "Bassus," which means "thick" or "wide," or the name could have been derived from the Middle Low German word "bare," meaning "the bear." 1 And in East Germany, the meaning 'bear' is mostly a surname, but also name of dwelling.

Early Origins of the Baar family

The surname Baar was first found in Bavaria, where the name Baar dates back to before 1300. 1 In this case, the name is "a habitational name from either of two places called Baar one in the Eifel region and the other in Bavaria." 1

While the name is traditionally understood to have originated in Bavaria, Huge de Bare (Bere) 'the bear' was listed in Westphalia in 1288. The variants Berenstert, Bernschinke mean 'bear tail, bear thigh'. 1

Early History of the Baar family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Baar research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1696, 1710, 1720, 1798 and 1872 are included under the topic Early Baar History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Baar Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Baar include Baar, Bar, Bahr, Baaren, Barr, Baher, Baren and others.

Early Notables of the Baar family

Notables of the period with the name Baar were Johann Christian Felix Bahr (1798-1872) German philologist and historian, best known for his work on the history of Roman literature, "Gersc hichte der romischen Litteratur" and his edition of Herodotus' works.Ernst Theophilus Baron was a famous lute player, born at Breslau Feb. 27, 1696. His first instruction was...
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Baar Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Baar migration to the United States +

After 1650, thousands of German settlers came to North America to escape the religious persecution and poverty that wracked Europe and to make the most of the opportunity to own their own land in a new country. They settled across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, and in Canada in Ontario and on the fertile plains of the prairie provinces. Among them:

Baar Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johan Baar who arrived in New York in 1709
  • Johannes Baar, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1754
  • Wilhelm Baar, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1754
  • Conrad Baar who was listed as having arrived in Pennsylvania in 1765
Baar Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Moses Baar, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1846

Contemporary Notables of the name Baar (post 1700) +

  • Emil N. Baar, American politician, Justice of New York Supreme Court 2nd District, 1951 2
  • Emil Nathaniel Baar (b. 1891), American lawyer
  • Judy Baar Topinka, American Republican politician, Illinois State Treasurer, 2004 3


  1. Bahlow, Hans, Dictionary of German Names. translated by Edda Gentry, Wisconsin: The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, 2002. Print. (ISBN 0-924119-35-7)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook