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Bernhard History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Sources

Bernhard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Portugal

Etymology of Bernhard

What does the name Bernhard mean?

The prestigious family surname Bernhard originated in the territory that eventually became the German state of Prussia. In the 19th century, this state was virtually unrivalled militarily, and its rapid industrial growth made it a contender for economic superiority in Europe as well. However, in the medieval era, Prussia was fragmented and inhabited by numerous barbarian tribes, who fought amongst themselves for control of the land. The borders of the barbarian kingdoms, which were established after the fall of the Roman Empire, changed repeatedly. The region that came to be known as Prussia was roughly divided between the territories of Brandenburg-Prussia, West Prussia and East Prussia. The Bernhard family emerged in Brandenburg-Prussia, which is essentially the birthplace of modern Germany. By the 19th century, Brandenburg-Prussia had incorporated East Prussia, West Prussia and many other German territories. Moreover, in the late 19th century, it led the German states in the unification of Germany.

Early Origins of the Bernhard family

The surname Bernhard was first found in Brandenburg, Mecklenburg, and throughout the lands that would later form the Prussian Empire, where the name became noted for its many branches, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the regions. In their later history the name became a power unto themselves and was elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family. In its mediaeval context, the literal meaning of the name was "baerenkuehn," that is, "bear-brave." The name began its rise to prominence as one of the most popular first names of northern Germany in the Middle Ages before becoming firmly grounded as a surname.

Early History of the Bernhard family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bernhard research. Another 219 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1604, 1612, 1623, 1639, 1692, 1728, 1760, 1762, 1763, 1769, 1787, 1810, 1818 and 1820 are included under the topic Early Bernhard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bernhard Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Bernhard include Bernhard, Bernhardi (Alemannic), Bernhardy (Latin genetive form found along Rhine and Danube rivers), Bernardt, Bernhardt, Bernehard, Bernehardt and many more.

Early Notables of the Bernhard family

Notable figures of the time with the name Bernhard were

Duke Bernhard of Saxen-Weimar (1604-1639), who was a celebrated general in the Thirty Years' War. He was born in 1604 in Weimar as the eleventh son of John, duke of Saxen-Weimar. At the outbreak of th...
Christoph Bernhard, capellmeister at Dresden; son of a poor sailor; born at Dantzic, 1612. He was so poor as to sing from door to door to keep himself from starving. By a Dr. Strauch he was placed in...
Wilhelm Christoph Bernhard, was a remarkable as a first-rate player of the works of J. S. Bach, both for organ and piano. Born at Saalfeld about 1760; died at Moscow at the early age of twenty-seven i...
Augustus Ferdinand Bernhardi (1769-1820) was a noted writer of the Romantic period

Bernhard Ranking

In the United States, the name Bernhard is the 11,744^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Bernhard is ranked the 2,219^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,878 people with that name. 2

Bernhard migration to the United States +

Much of German history has been shaped by the state of Prussia. It was an enduring military power until after the Second World War. At that time, the state was abolished altogether and its land divided between the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany. While some Prussians were content to remain in those countries, others moved away, many of them migrating to North America. They entered the United States mostly through Philadelphia, moving on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Others went to Canada, settling on the prairies and in the province of Ontario. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:

Bernhard Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Imp Bernhard, who arrived in New York in 1709 3
Just Bernhard, who landed in New York in 1709 with his wife Elisabeth and child 3
Johann Bernhard, who arrived in New York in 1709 3
Johannes Bernhard, who landed in New York, NY in 1709 with his wife Anna Eulalia and 5 children 3
Ulrich Bernhard, who arrived in New York in 1709 with his wife Elisabeth 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bernhard Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Catharina Bernhard, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1803 3
Adam Bernhard, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1803 3
George Bernhard, who arrived in New York in 1836 3
Wilhelmine Bernhard, who landed in America in 1839 3
Miss Bernhard, aged 33, who arrived in America in 1843 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bernhard migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bernhard Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Ernestine Bernhard, aged 19, who landed in Quebec in 1868

Contemporary Notables of the name Bernhard (post 1700) +

William F. Bernhard (1924-2018), American cardiovascular surgeon, Emeritus Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, and cardiovascular surgical pioneer
Sandra Bernhard (b. 1955), American singer and comedian
Ruth Bernhard (1905-2006), American photographer
Timo Bernhard (b. 1981), German sports car racer
Henriette-Rosine Bernhard (1845-1923), French actress who used the stage name Sarah Bernhardt
Thomas Bernhard (1931-1988), Austrian novelist, playwright and poet
Alfred Bernhard Nobel (1833-1896), Swedish chemist, the inventor of dynamite, founder of the Nobel Prize
Karl Bernhard Hesse MSC MBE (1936-2023), German prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, Auxiliary Bishop of Rabaul from 1978 to 1980, Bishop of Kavieng from 1980 to 1990, and Archbishop of Rabaul from 1990 to 2011
Dieter Bernhard Herrmann (1939-2021), German astronomer and author of numerous popular science literature books on astronomy, Director of the Zeiss Major Planetarium in Berlin from 1987 to 2004
Juergen Bernhard Donges (1940-2021), German economist and professor emeritus of political economics at the University of Cologne

Historic Events for the Bernhard family +

Hindenburg LZ-129

Mr. Alfred Bernhard (1905-1937), German Helmsman from Charlottenburg, Germany, who worked on board the Hindenburg LZ-129 and survived the Airship Fire, but later died in hospital from injuries 4

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Hindenburg Disaster Passenger List | Airships.net. (Retrieved 2014, April 11) . Retrieved from http://www.airships.net/hindenburg/disaster/hindenburg-passenger-list/