| ![Show Contents]() Bernal History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The surname is one of the Anglo-Norman surnames that came to Ireland in the 12th century. Ireland already had an established system of hereditary surnames, often the two traditions blended together quite well, but the incoming Anglo-Normans also brought with them local surnames, such as Bernal. Local names were taken from the names of a place or a geographical feature where the person lived, held land, or was born, some from places in Normandy, or more typically, from England. Originally, the place names were prefixed by de, which means from in French. This type of prefix was eventually either made a part of the surname if the place name began with a vowel or was eliminated entirely. The Bernal family appears to have originally lived in either of the settlements called Barnwell in the English counties of Cambridge and Northumberland. The Gaelic form of the surname Bernal is de Bearnabhal. Early Origins of the Bernal familyThe surname Bernal was first found in County Meath at Crickstown Castle. "De Bernvale, accompanied William the Conqueror to England in 1066. He came from Lower Brittany, and was allied to the dukes of that province" 1 Another source is more specific: "Sir Michael de Berneval, a scion of the family founded by the Norman knight, joined the English expedition fitted out against Ireland and affected a descent upon Beerhaven in County Cork, previously to the landing of his chief, Earl Strongbow, in Leinster. Sir Michael is mentioned in the records of the Tower of London, as one of the leading captains in the enterprise; and in the reigns of Henry II. and Richard I. he was Lord, by tenure, of Beerhaven and Bantry. " 2 "The Barons Trimleston, like the Viscounts Kingsland, descend from the De Bernevals of Brittany. Sir Christopher Barnewall of Crickstown, in the county of Meath, was Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland in 1445-1446. After the subjection of Ireland in the time of Henry II, Michael de Berneval, who served under Strongbow, obtained large grants of land at Beerhaven, county Cork, of which the O'Sullivans had been dispossessed. Here the Bernevals flourished in great prosperity until the reign of John, when the Irish rose against them, and destroyed every member of the family but one, who happened to be in London learning the law. The latter, returning to Ireland, was settled at Drumnagh, near Dublin, where his posterity remained until the reign of James I. " 3 Early History of the Bernal familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bernal research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1465, 1470, 1500, 1522, 1534, 1538, 1550, 1552, 1560, 1575, 1592, 1622, 1640, 1646, 1663, 1704, 1779 and 1842 are included under the topic Early Bernal History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Bernal Spelling VariationsDuring the Middle Ages, a single person often had their name recorded by church officials and scribes many different ways. Names were typically spelt as they sounded, which resulted in many different spelling variations. The many versions of the name Bernal to have been recorded over the years include: Barnewall, Barnwall, Barnwill, Barnewill, Barnewell, Barnewelle, Barnwelle, Barnwell, Bernwell, Barneville and many more. Early Notables of the Bernal familyNotable amongst the family up to this time was Sir Nicholas Barnewall (died after 1465), an Irish judge and landowner who held office as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland. He was the progenitor of the Barnewall Baronets of Crickstown.John Barnewall, 3rd Baron Trimleston (1470-1538), was High Chancellor of Ireland; and John Barnewall, was 3rd Baron Trimlestown (1534-1538.)Nicholas Barnewall, 1st Viscount Kingsland (1592-1663), belonged to the family of Barnewall, or De Berneval. 3Sir Patrick Barnewall or Barnwall (d. 1622), was the eldest son...
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bernal Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Bernal RankingIn the United States, the name Bernal is the 1,374th most popular surname with an estimated 22,383 people with that name. 4 However, in France, the name Bernal is ranked the 5,702nd most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 5  Migration of the Bernal family to Ireland
Some of the Bernal family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 114 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Bernal migration to the United States | + |
Ireland's Great Potato Famine left the country's inhabitants in extreme poverty and starvation. Many families left their homeland for North America for the promise of work, freedom and land ownership. Although the Irish were not free of economic and racial discrimination in North America, they did contribute greatly to the rapid development of bridges, canals, roads, and railways. Eventually, they would be accepted in other areas such as commerce, education, and the arts. An examination of immigration and passenger lists revealed many bearing the name Bernal:
Bernal Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- John Bernal, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 6
Bernal Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Jose Bernal, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1802 6
- Alonso Bernal, who landed in America in 1811 6
- Diego Bernal, who arrived in America in 1813 6
- Leonor Bernal, who landed in America in 1816 6
- Jeronimo Bernal, who landed in America in 1826 6
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Bernal 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. 7Bernal Settlers in West Indies in the 19th Century- Juana Bernal, who arrived in Dominican Republic in 1836 6
- Pedro Bernal, who arrived in Dominican Republic in 1836 6
| Contemporary Notables of the name Bernal (post 1700) | + |
- Paulino Bernal (1939-2022), American accordion player and Christian evangelist, member of the Tejano Tex-Mex group Conjunto Bernal
- John Desmond Bernal (1901-1971), Irish-born scientist known for pioneering X-ray crystallography
- Richard L. Bernal OJ (1949-2023), Jamaican economist and diplomat
- Agustín Bernal (1959-2018), born Romualdo Bucío Bucío, a Mexican actor, film director, writer, and producer
- Vicente García Bernal (1929-2017), Mexican Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Ciudad Obregón (1988–2005)
- Gerardo Bernal, Mexican professional footballer who plays for Murciélagos of Ascenso MX
- Ricardo Acevedo Bernal, Colombian artist
- Ishmael Bernal (1938-1996), Filipino filmmaker
- Gael García Bernal (b. 1978), Mexican film actor
- Jorge Bernal Vargas (1929-2023), Mexican Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Cancún-Chetumal from 1974 to 2004
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: Malo mori quam foedari
Motto Translation: I would rather die than be disgraced.
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- "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)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
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Bernal migration to the United States 
Bernal migration to West Indies 
Ireland
England
