Bernard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France
Germany
Ireland
Italy
Scotland
England

Etymology of Bernard

What does the name Bernard mean?

The surname Bernard is derived from the French personal name Bernard, making this surname a patronym, or derived from the name of a parent or other ancestor. This type of surname belongs to the category of surnames, known as hereditary surnames. Patronymic surnames arose out of the vernacular and religious given name traditions. The vernacular or regional naming tradition is the oldest and most pervasive type of patronymic surname. According to this custom, names were originally composed of vocabulary elements from the local language. Vernacular names that were derived from ancient Germanic personal names have cognates in most European languages. For example, the court of Charlemagne (742-814) was Christian and Latin-speaking, but the Frankish dialect of Old German was commonly used for personal names. Vernacular names were widespread throughout Normandy. Accordingly, many typical English and French names are in fact, originally of Germanic origin. In some cases the exact same name appears in many other European countries. The personal name Bernard is derived from the Germanic name Bernhard, which is composed of the Old German elements bern, which meant bear, and hard, which meant hard or strong. The personal name therefore meant "as strong as a bear."

Early Origins of the Bernard family

The surname Bernard was first found in Provence, where the family has held a family seat since very early times.

Bernard (fl. 1093), of Neufmarché (de Novo-mercatii), "often called in English 'of Newmarch,' was the son of Geoffrey, son of Thurcytel, Lord of Neufmarché by the forest of Lions, and of Ada, daughter of Richard of Hugleville, famous for his faithfulness to his duke, William, in the war of Arques, and a grandson of Richard the Good by his daughter Papia. Bernard emigrated to England with the Conqueror, and his name appears as a witness to two charters granted by William to his abbey of Battle. " 1

However, not all of the family moved to England. By the 16th century this ancient family was well established and several members of this remarkable family were distinctive through their active contributions to the King, country, and fellowman and therefore were rewarded with lands, titles, and letters patent confirming their nobility.

Among these distinguished members was M. Bernard of Feissal who, in recognition of his achievement, both politically and culturally, acquired the title of Lord of the Tour Saint-Vincent.

Descending from the original line of Provence were several impressive members who received their letters of nobility, and their descendants maintained their noble status in 1668. Claude Bernard, 1813-1878 was a famous professor of Collége de France, wrote "Introduction to the study of experimental Medicine".

Participating extensively in the affairs of his community, Charles Bernard became a Counsellor at the Court of Aix and acknowledging his capabilities he was made the Leader of the Barristers of Nice from 1845 to 1915. In 1901 in recognition of all his impressive accomplishments Bernard was granted the title of a Roman Count.

Jean Bernard, born in 1638, son of Jean and Catherine (née Fauden), travelled from Tionville, Germany to New France in 1663. He settled on a farm in île d'Orléans, Quebec where he worked as a farmer and a wagon maker. He married Marie de Bure, daughter of Vincent and Suzanne (née Golin), in Quebec and on 27th December 1666. In February 1698, Jean was found dead from hypothermia on Saint-Pierre Lake. 2

Early History of the Bernard family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bernard research. Another 46 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1615, 1651, 1658, 1662, 1687, 1712, 1718 and 1739 are included under the topic Early Bernard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bernard Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Bernard, Bernerd, Bernat, Bernarde, Barnard, Bairnard, Burnard, Bernaurd and many more.

Early Notables of the Bernard family

Notable amongst the names at this time was

Jacques-Samuel Bernard (1615-1687), a French miniature painter and engraver
Samuel Bernard (1651-1739), a financier, loaned money to Louis XIV and Louis XV
Jacques Bernard (1658-1718), French theologian and publicist, born at Nions in Dauphiné

Bernard World Ranking

In the United States, the name Bernard is the 830^th most popular surname with an estimated 37,305 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Bernard is ranked the 190^th most popular surname with an estimated 19,415 people with that name. 4 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Bernard is the 110^th popular surname. 5 France ranks Bernard as 2^nd with 105,132 people. 6

Bernard migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bernard Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Bernard, who landed in Virginia in 1625 7
Stephen Bernard, who landed in Virginia in 1628 7
Mrs. Phebe Bernard, aged 27, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Elizabeth" in 1634, found in Watertown. 7
Samuel Bernard, aged 1, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Elizabeth" in 1634, found in Watertown. 7
Mrs. Mary Bernard, aged 38, who landed in New England, bound for Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1634 aboard the ship "Francis" 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bernard Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

David Bernard, who arrived in Jamestown, Virginia in 1700
David Bernard, who arrived in Jamestown, Va in 1700 7
Joseph Bernard, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 7
Claude Bernard, who arrived in Louisiana in 1719 7
Pierre Bernard, aged 18, who landed in Louisiana in 1720 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bernard Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Andre Bernard, who arrived in Louisiana in 1805 7
Mr. Bernard, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1813 7
Richard Bernard who arrived in New York City in 1816
Richard Bernard, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 7
Simon Bernard, who landed in New York in 1822 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bernard Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Friedrich Bernard who arrived in Kentucky between 1881 and 1900

Bernard migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bernard Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Guillaume Bernard, who landed in Canada in 1663
Jean Bernard, son of Jean and Catherine, who married Marie De Bure, daughter of Vincent and Suzanne, in Quebec on 27th December 1666 9
André Bernard, son of André and Marie, who married Marie Gitton, daughter of Denis and Marie, in Quebec on 26th November 1676 9
Hilaire Bernard, married, Marie-Madeleine Voyer, daughter of Pierre and Catherine, in Quebec on 3rd November 1694 9
Charles Bernard, son of Jean and Marie, who married Geneviève Martin, daughter of Pierre and Jacobine, in Saint-Augustin, Quebec on 10th November 1697 9

Bernard Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Nicolas Bernard, son of Jean and Marie, who married Marie-Thérèse Bruneau, daughter of François and Marie, in Quebec on 22nd November 1707 9
Jean Bernard, son of Jean and Marie, who married Marie Barbot, daughter of François and Marguerite, in Charlesbourg, Quebec on 21st November 1712 9
Claude Bernard, son of Jacques and Louise, who married Angélique Coulombe, daughter of Louis and Jeanne-Marguerite, in Quebec on 7th August 1713 9
René Bernard, son of René and Madeleine, who married Anne Blon, daughter of Jacques and Marie, in Beaubassin, Quebec on 11th July 1713 9
Jean-Baptiste Bernard, son of Jean and Marie-Anne, who married Marie-Anne Moreau, daughter of Pierre and Élisabeth, in Montreal, Quebec on 24th May 1716 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bernard Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Margaret Bernard, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1803
William Bernard, aged 13, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Edward Reid" in 1833

Bernard migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Bernard Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Gustav Louis Ernest Wilhem Bernard, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Steinwaerder" 10
Fred Bernard, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Simlah" in 1849 11
Thomas Bernard, aged 37, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Constance" 12
Frederick Bernard, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Candahar" in 1850 13

Bernard migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Bernard Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Sister Angela Bernard, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 9th March 1852 14
Miss Ann Bernard, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th February 1856 15
Miss Jane Bernard, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th February 1856 15
Henry Bernard, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Portland" in 1864
Elizabeth Bernard, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Portland" in 1864
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bernard migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 16

Bernard Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Nathaniell Bernard, (b. 1613), aged 22, British settler traveling aboard the ship "William and John" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 17

Contemporary Notables of the name Bernard (post 1700) +

Robyn Bernard (1959-2024), American actress, best known for her role as Terry Brock on General Hospital
Wynton Allen Bernard (b. 1990), American professional baseball outfielder
William Bayle Bernard (1807-1875), often referred to as "Bayle Bernard", was a well-known American-born London playwright and drama critic
Terrel Bernard (b. 1999), American football linebacker
Turner Bernard (b. 1998), American football long snapper
Rod Bernard (1940-2020), American singer
Sherman Albert Bernard Sr. (1925-2012), American businessman
Susan Lynn Bernard (1948-2019), American author, actress, model and businesswoman
Lawrence George Bernard (1914-1997), American submarine commander during World War II
Lawrence Bernard (b. 1927), American editor
... (Another 75 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Bernard family +

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Clinton Will Percival Bernard, American 1st Class Passenger from New York, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 18
Mr. Oliver Percy Bernard, English 1st Class Passenger from London, England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking by escaping in life boat 11 18

SS Caribou

Mrs. Harriet Bernard (b. 1920), British passenger from North Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, she died in the sinking
Miss Shirley Bernard (b. 1942), British passenger from North Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, she died in the sinking

USS Arizona

Mr. Frank Peter Bernard, American Shipfitter Second Class from North Dakota, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 19

Winter Quarters coal mine

Mr. Henry Bernard, American mine worker from San Francisco, California who worked in the Winter Quarters coal mine on 1st May 1900, when 10 of the 25lb kegs of black powder exploded; he died in the explosion 20

The Bernard Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fortitudo and mansuetudo
Motto Translation: The strength and gentleness

Citations +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 1, Institut Drouin, 1958.
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) STEINWARDER 1849 aka STEINWAERDER. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Steinwarder.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The SIMLAH 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Simlah.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CONSTANCE 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Constance.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CANDAHAR 1850. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Candahar.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
Miners killed in Winter Quarters (retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from http://www.carbon-utgenweb.com/miners.html