| ![Show Contents]() Berker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Berker is Anglo-Saxon in origin. It was a name given to a person who stripped trees of bark for tanning. "It is confined to the northern half of England and to the eastern counties north of the Thames. It is very frequent in Yorkshire, and is also well represented in the counties of Derby, Lincoln, and Norfolk." 1 The name evolved from "from the trade or occupation of 'barker,' an obsolete name for the bark-stripper or rather for the man who prepared the bark for the tanner. Later the word was synonymous with 'tanner.' " 2 "A tanner, from his using bark of trees in his trade. In the old ballad of the King and the Tanner in Percy's Reliques, the latter calls himself "a Barker, Sir, by my trade." English Sum. Barcarius and Le Barkere." 3 Early Origins of the Berker familyThe surname Berker was first found in Yorkshire where Ralph Berker was a Knights Templar in 1185. A few years later, Aluredus le berkier was found the in the Pipe Rolls for Lincolnshire in 1193. Later again, John le Bercher was recorded in the Curia Regis Rolls for Hampshire in 1212. Jordan le Barker was found in the Assize Rolls for Essex in 1255 and John le Barker was listed in the Assize Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1260. 4 The previous entries that include "le", meaning "the", point the the occupational nature of the name as by example, "John the Barker." Another source notes, Alan le Barkere who was listed there in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The same rolls listed Robert Barcarius in Lincolnshire. 5 Early records in Scotland include: "Patrick Bercar and his son [who] held land in Dunipace c. 1200. Alisaundre le Barker, provost of the burgh of Haddington, rendered homage in 1296 [to King Edward I of England]. Richard le Barker of Tyningham, tenant of the bishop of St. Andrews in the county of Edneburk also rendered homage in the same year. Thomas Barkar in the parish of Fyvy was excommunicated in 1382, William Barcar held a land in Edinburgh in 1400, and Alexander Barcare was vicar of the parish of Pettinain in 1486." 2 Early History of the Berker familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Berker research. Another 317 words (23 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1577, 1600, 1609, 1619, 1623, 1635, 1652, 1655, 1664, 1678, 1679, 1680, 1685, 1696, 1698, 1700, 1702, 1708, 1715, 1722, 1731, 1734, 1739, 1749, 1774, 1788, 1793, 1804, 1806, 1808 and 1809 are included under the topic Early Berker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Berker Spelling VariationsUntil the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Berker include Barker, Barkers, Barkes, Barkess, Barkere, Barkar and others. Early Notables of the Berker familyDistinguished members of the family include Sir Christopher Barker, a distinguished British diplomat and court official in the 16th century; Sir John Barker, 1st Baronet (c.1609-c. 1652); and his son, Sir John Barker, 2nd Baronet (c.1635-1664); and his son, Sir John Barker, 4th Baronet (1655-1696), an English Baronet and politician, Member of Parliament for Ipswich (1680-1696); and his son, Sir William...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Berker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Berker family to Ireland
Some of the Berker family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Berker migration to the United States | + |
Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Berker were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:
Berker Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Thomas Berker, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 6
Berker Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Johanes Berker, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1786 6
Berker Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- John Berker, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 6
| Contemporary Notables of the name Berker (post 1700) | + |
- Ennis A. Berker, American politician, Representative from Michigan 6th District, 1994 7
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: Fide sed cui vide
Motto Translation: Trust, but in whom take care.
- Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- 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)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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Berker migration to the United States 
England
Ireland
Scotland
