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Bernier History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Bernier History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France

The Bernier surname comes from the occupational name Bernier, "one who had charge of fresh relays of dogs in hunting, a huntsman." 1 2 3

Alternatively the name could have been derived from "Bernieres, near Falaise. Hugh de Bernieres appears as a Domesday tenant in the counties of Essex, Cambridge, and Middlesex. In Essex he held Bernston (Bernerstown), Roding Berners, &c, under Geoffrey de Mandeville; and in Cambridgeshire Eversdon, which is said to have been his chief seat, as it certainly was that of his posterity. William de Berners, in 1093, witnesses Robert Fitz Hugh's charter to Chester Abbey; and two of the name are entered in the Liber Niger: Ralph de Bernieres, holding six knight's fees; and Richard de Bernieres, seven. Robert de Berners, 6 Richard I." 4 5

Early Origins of the Bernier family

The surname Bernier was first found in Surrey where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Therfield. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands in Essex at Roding Berniers (Roothing Berners) and Bernston who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. 6

They are believed to be descended from Hugh de Berniers in Normandy near Falaise. They also held in Cambridge at Eversdon, his main domain. Rooting Berners "derives its distinguishing affix from Hugh de Berners, to whom the manor at one time belonged. " 7

The same gentleman held estates in Barnston, again in Essex. "The manor was held by Hugh de Berners and his descendants for many generations, and from them obtained its name Bernerstown, now corrupted into Bernston or Barnston." 7

The alter tomb in West Horsley, Surrey has an effigy of "one of the Berners, a family who resided there about the time of Richard II." 7

Dame Juliana Berners, Bernes or Barnes (b. 1388?), was an early English writer on hawking, hunting, and heraldry. "The historic and the legendary Dame Juliana Berners are very different persons. 'What is really known of the Dame is almost nothing, and may be summed up in the following few words. She probably lived at the beginning of the fifteenth century, and she possibly compiled from existing, MSS. some rhymes on hunting.' " 8

Another noted source weighs in on this controversy: "The identity of Dame Julyans Berners, authoress of the 'Treatyse on Fysshynge with an Angle,' has never been established. Some have called her the daughter of the Sir James who was executed in 1388; but the probable date of her book is about a century later; and from her title of Dame, she must have been a wife rather than a daughter. In these popularity-hunting days, it is refreshing to note how solicitous she is that her treatise should not be indiscriminately read, and fall into unworthy hands, being intended only for true sportsmen. Her style is charmingly simple and natural, and the wholesome advice she gives her readers proves her to have been a worthy and God-fearing woman. " 4

Early History of the Bernier family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bernier research. Another 157 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1265, 1455, 1467, 1472, 1474, 1495, 1504, 1510, 1516, 1518, 1529, 1533 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Bernier History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bernier Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Berner, Berners, Berniers, Burner, Burners, Burniers, Barners, Bearners and many more.

Early Notables of the Bernier family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Bourchier de Berners, 2nd Baron Berners (1467-1533), an English diplomat and man of letters. He was a member of Parliament from 1495 to 1529, Chancellor of the exchequer (1516) and ambassador to Madrid (1518). He was son of John Bourchier, 1st Baron Berners, KG (died 1474) who was an English peer and the fourth son of William Bourchier, 1st Count of Eu. "Margery, daughter and heir of Richard Berners, of...
Another 78 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bernier Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bernier World Ranking

In the United States, the name Bernier is the 2,238^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 9 However, in Canada, the name Bernier is ranked the 134^th most popular surname with an estimated 24,055 people with that name. 10 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Bernier is the 40^th popular surname. 11 France ranks Bernier as 433^rd with 9,928 people. 12

Bernier migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Bernier or a variant listed above:

Bernier Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johannes Bernier, who landed in Georgia in 1742 13

Bernier Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mauricio Bernier, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1816 13
John J Lambert Bernier, who landed in New York in 1824 13
Herm Bernier, who arrived in America in 1848 13
F Bernier, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1855 13

Bernier migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bernier Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Jacques Bernier, son of Thomas and Catherine, who married Gillette Bonne, daughter of Marin and Isabelle, in Quebec on 27th July 1653 14
Jacques Bernier, son of Yves and Michelle, who married Antoine Grenier, daughter of Claude and Catherine, in Quebec on 23rd July 1656 14
Antoine Bernier, married, Marguerite Bélanger, daughter of Françoise and Marie, in Château-Richer, Quebec on 19th November 1663 14
Mathurin Bernier, son of Mathurin and Renée, who married Jeanne Villain, daughter of Jean-Barbe and Jeanne, in Montreal, Quebec on 28th October 1670 14
Pierre Bernier, son of Jaques and Antoinette, who married Françoise Boulé, daughter of Robert and Françoise, in Saint-Thomas, Quebec on 21st February 1689 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bernier Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Charles Bernier, son of Jacques and Antoinette, who married Marie Faye, daughter of Pierre and Marie, in Quebec in 1700 14
Philippe Bernier, son of Jacques and Antoinette, who married Ursule Caron, daughter of Jean and Marguerite, in Sainte-Anne, Quebec on 30th October 1701 14
René Bernier, son of Pierre and Charlotte, who married Marie-Agnès Berthiaume, daughter of Jacques and Catherine, in Sainte-Foy, Quebec on 18th April 1712 14
Jacques Bernier, son of Pierre and Françoise, who married Élisabeth Guay, daughter of Michel and Élisabeth, in Cap-Saint-Ignace, Quebec in 1720 14
Alexandre Bernier, son of Charles and Marie-Anne, who married Marie-Louise Fortin, daughter of Eustache and Louise, in Cap-Saint-Ignace, Quebec on 24th November 1723 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bernier (post 1700) +

Henriette Bernier (1937-2022), French novelist from Meuse Department, France
Sylvie Bernier (b. 1964), Canadian diver, gold medal winner at the 1984 Olympics
Georges Bernier (1929-2005), French humorist and founder of Hara Kiri magazine
Leo Edward Bernier (b. 1929), Canadian politician from Ontario
Étienne-Alexandre Bernier, French religious figure and Royalist politician during the French Revolution

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 1 of 3
Liber Niger Scutarii ("Black Book of the Exchequer"), containing reports by county on feudal holdings in England in 1166 (reign of Henry II)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 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/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
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)
Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 1, Institut Drouin, 1958.