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Bergen History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Bergen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands-Alt
Netherlands
England
Germany
Ireland
Sweden

Medieval Austria is the ancient homeland of the Bergen family. Austria, which was originally home to a Celtic people, was conquered by the Roman Empire in about 15 BC Following the fall of Rome, Austria was repeatedly invaded by barbarian tribes, such as the Vandals, Visigoths, and Huns, who swept in from the east. During the 5th and 6th centuries, the Alemanni, Avars and Slavs settled Austria. The Avars were defeated in 785 by the Frankish emperor Charlemagne, who set up the East Mark, which later became known as the Österreich. Austria was ruled by the Babenburger dynasty until 1278, when they were succeeded by the Hapsburg dynasty, which ruled Austria until the 20th century.

Early Origins of the Bergen family

The surname Bergen was first found in Austria, where the name could be considered to make a great early contribution to the feudal society which became the backbone of early development of Europe. The name became prominent in local affairs and branched into many houses which played important roles in the savage tribal and national conflicts, each group seeking power and status in an ever changing territorial profile.

Early History of the Bergen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bergen research. Another 181 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1530, 1673, 1846, 1851 and 1853 are included under the topic Early Bergen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bergen 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 Bergen include Bergen, Berghen, Berggen, Bergenn, Berrgen, Burgen, Burghen and many more.

Early Notables of the Bergen family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Bergen were

Paul von Bergen, who became Chancellor of the principality of Anhalt in 1530...
Johann von Bergen, was a professor at the University of Frankfurt on the river Oder in eastern Brandenburg...

Bergen Ranking

In the United States, the name Bergen is the 5,319^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1

Bergen migration to the United States +

After the First World War, Austria became a republic. The Treaty of Versailles broke up the empire in 1919 and many of the Sudeten Germans were incorporated into the new nation of Czechoslovakia. In the 20th century, many Austrians migrated to other parts of Germany or Europe, as well as to North America. In the United States, the majority of settlers landed in Philadelphia, and moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Many German settlers also migrated to Canada, particularly Ontario and the Prairies. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Bergen were

Bergen Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Hans Hans Bergen, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1620 2
Martin Gerretsen Van Bergen, who landed in Albany, NY in 1630 2
Hans Hansen Bergen, who arrived in New York in 1633 2
Hans Hansen Van Bergen, who landed in New York, NY in 1633 2
Breckje Hans Bergen, who arrived in New York, NY in 1661 2

Bergen Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hans Bergen, who landed in New York in 1709 2

Bergen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joh V Bergen, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 2
Andrew Bergen, aged 24, who arrived in New York in 1835 2
Casper Bergen, aged 19, who arrived in New York, NY in 1847 2
John Bergen, who arrived in Tippecanoe County, Ind in 1848 2
Bridget Bergen, aged 16, who landed in New York in 1849 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bergen Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Moses B Bergen, who landed in Mississippi in 1900 2

Bergen migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bergen Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Bergen who settled in St. John's Newfoundland and married in 1814 3
Henry Bergen, who arrived in Manitoba in 1875
Isaac Bergen, who landed in Manitoba in 1875
Abram Bergen, who landed in Manitoba in 1875
Cornelius Bergen, who landed in Manitoba in 1875
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bergen migration to Australia +

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

Bergen Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Honora Bergen, aged 24, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Sea Park"
Mary Bergen, aged 18, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Royal Albert"

Bergen 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:

Bergen Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Anne Bergen, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Stately" in 1851
John Bergen, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Stately" in 1851
Miss Anne Bergen, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Stately" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 1st June 1851 4
Mr. John Bergen, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Stately" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 1st June 1851 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Bergen (post 1700) +

Frances Bergen (1922-2006), born Frances Westerman, American actress and fashion model, wife of ventriloquist Edgar Bergen
William Aloysius "Bill" Bergen (1878-1943), American Major League Baseball catcher who played from 1901 through 1911
Robert "Bob" Bergen (b. 1964), American voice actor, current voice of Porky Pig
William Benjamin Bergen, American aerospace engineer, who became President of Aerospace Operations in 1971
Edgar Bergen (1903-1978), born Edgar John Bergren, American ventriloquist, actor and radio performer known for his double entendres with Charlie, his dummy and his fictional feuds with W.C. Fields, inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame, father of Candice Bergen
Candice Patricia Bergen (b. 1946), American five-time Emmy Award, two-time Golden Globe winning American actress
Polly Bergen (b. 1930), American Emmy Award-winning actress, singer, and entrepreneur
Bruce H. Bergen, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New Jersey 7th District, 1990 5
Alexander J. Bergen, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Suffolk County 2nd District, 1861 5
A. Bergen, American politician, Member of Minnesota State Senate 14th District, 1869 5
... (Another 25 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Bergen family +

Bismarck

Walter von Bergen (1921-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 6

The Bergen 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: Nullus volat altius ales
Motto Translation: No bird soars higher

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details