Show ContentsBergman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The German surname Bergman is derived from the word "berg," which means "hill," or "mountain." Thus, the first of the name were likely people who lived on or by a hill or mountain.

Early Origins of the Bergman family

The surname Bergman was first found in West Prussia, where the name contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation which would later play a large role in the tribal and national conflicts of the area. In later years the name branched into many houses, each playing a significant role in the local social and political affairs.

Early History of the Bergman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bergman research. Another 135 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1617, 1748, 1761, 1836, 1840, 1866, 1878 and 1907 are included under the topic Early Bergman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bergman Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Bergmann, Bergman, Bergemann (Cologne, Westphalia) and many more.

Early Notables of the Bergman family

Notable figures of the period with the name Bergman were

  • Israel von Bergmann (d.1748), the Lord of the manor Tetterin near the town Anklam in Pomerania, who became an influential Privy Councillor at the royal court of Prussia...
  • Ernst von Bergmann (1836-1907) was Professor of Surgery in Berlin...
  • Gustav von Bergmann, worked in internal medicine and wrote "Functional Pathology...

Bergman Ranking

In the United States, the name Bergman is the 1,870th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. [1] However, in Netherlands, the name Bergman is ranked the 488th most popular surname with an estimated 3,534 people with that name. [2]


United States Bergman migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bergman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Andreas Bergman, who arrived in New York in 1709 [3]
  • Christoph Bergman, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1742 [3]
  • Henry Bergman, who landed in New York, NY in 1750 [3]
  • Carl Anton Bergman, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1751 [3]
  • Jacob Bergman, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1763 [3]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Bergman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • J H C Bergman, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1841 [3]
  • H Bergman, aged 4, who arrived in New York, NY in 1847 [3]
  • Anna Bergman, aged 1, who arrived in New York, NY in 1847 [3]
  • John Bergman, who landed in Texas in 1850 [3]
  • Caroline Bergman, aged 26, who arrived in New York, NY in 1856 [3]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Bergman Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Karoly Bergman, who arrived in Alabama in 1926 [3]
  • Paul Bergman, who landed in Alabama in 1926 [3]

Canada Bergman migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bergman Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Peter Bergman, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Sophia Bergman, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Bergman Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Bernd Bergman, who arrived in Manitoba in 1876
  • Johan Bergman, who arrived in Manitoba in 1877

New Zealand Bergman 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:

Bergman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Bergman, (b. 1850), aged 24, British settler travelling from England aboard the ship "Varuna" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 27th May 1874 [4]
  • Mrs. Rebecca Bergman, (b. 1854), aged 20, British settler travelling from England aboard the ship "Varuna" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 27th May 1874 [4]

Contemporary Notables of the name Bergman (post 1700) +

  • Marilyn Keith Bergman (1928-2022), born Marilyn Katz, American songwriter who with her husband Alan, they wrote music and lyrics for numerous celebrated television, film, and stage productions, winners of three Academy Awards, three Emmy Awards, the Grammy Award for Song of the Year, and were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
  • Joel Bergman (1936-2016), American architect, known for his elaborate designs of casinos including the Las Vegas Hilton, MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Golden Nugget Las Vegas, The Mirage, Treasure Island Hotel and Casino and many more
  • David Bruce Bergman (1953-2015), American Major League Baseball first baseman, designated hitter and outfielder who played from 1975 to 1992
  • Borah Bergman (1926-2012), American free jazz pianist
  • Sean Frederick Bergman (b. 1970), American former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher
  • Lowell A. Bergman (b. 1945), American investigative reporter with The New York Times; he shared the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2004
  • Alan Bergman (b. 1925), American lyricist and songwriter inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1980
  • Don Bergman, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives 89th District, 2012 [5]
  • Dennis Lee Bergman, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1972, 1980 [5]
  • Caroline Bergman, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Nebraska, 1972 [5]
  • ... (Another 26 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Empress of Ireland
  • Mrs Senja Bergman (1891-1914), American Third Class Passenger from Ironwood, Michigan, United States who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking [6]
  • Mr. Reino Bergman (d. 1914), American Third Class Passenger from Ironwood, Michigan, United States who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking [6]


Suggested Readings for the name Bergman +

  • The Korn Legacy (including the Bergman Family) by Jean Millicent Korn.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
  3. 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)
  4. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  6. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html


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