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Beyer History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Beyer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

The Beyer surname first began to be used in the German state of Bavaria, some time after the 12th century, when hereditary surnames were adopted according to fairly general rules, and names that were derived from locations became particularly common. The family name Beyer is a local surname. Originally denoting the proprietorship of an estate or influence within a village, the German preposition von, which means from or of, used with local names, was taken as a mark of aristocracy. The surname Beyer was given to someone who lived in Southern Germany. Further research showed the name was derived from the name the Celtic tribe of the "Boii" who once inhabited this area as well as Bohemia. Beyer is derived from the Latin root word Bauari, which means Bavarian people. In the 6th century, the Boii were replaced by a Germanic tribe, a branch of the Marcomanni, who adapted the name Boioarii or Baiuarii. Beyer is also the German and Ashkenazic Jewish name for someone from Bavaria, or Bayern.

Early Origins of the Beyer family

The surname Beyer was first found in Bavaria, where the name was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. They declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region. They branched into many houses, and their contributions were sought by several leaders in their search for power. The name is related to "Bayer," both names referring to the Kingdom of Bavaria, but from early on "Beyer" and its variations formed distinct branches. A high percentage of these branches moved into Silesia, a region just north east of Bavaria.

Early History of the Beyer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beyer research. Another 141 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1716, 1747, 1786 and 1803 are included under the topic Early Beyer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beyer Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Beyer include Beyer, Beyere, Beyerre, Beier, Beir, Beiere, Beierre and many more.

Early Notables of the Beyer family

Prominent among members of the name Beyer in this period include

the royal Prussian cabinet advisor Wilhelm Heinrich von Beyer, who in 1803 owned the estates of Schoenefeld and Sydow in the Upper-Barnim region

Beyer Ranking

In the United States, the name Beyer is the 2,173^rd most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Beyer is ranked the 3,442^nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,000 - 2,500 people with that name. 2

Beyer migration to the United States +

The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:

Beyer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Anna Appollonia Beyer, who landed in America in 1681 3
Eva va Elisabetha Beyer, who landed in America in 1681 3
Joh Phillipp Beyer, who landed in America in 1681 3
Johann Andreas Beyer, who landed in America in 1681 3
Johann Martin Beyer, who landed in America in 1681 3

Beyer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Tomas Beyer, who landed in New York in 1709 3
Sagond Beyer, who arrived in New York in 1709 3
Mike Beyer, who landed in New York in 1709 3
Hans Peter Beyer, who landed in New York in 1709 3
Henrig Beyer, who landed in New York in 1709 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Beyer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joh Nicolaus Beyer, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 3
Gottliep Frangott Beyer, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1817 3
Godhelp L Beyer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1820 3
George H Beyer, who arrived in New York, NY in 1846 3
F Beyer, aged 35, who landed in New York, NY in 1847 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Beyer migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Beyer Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Charles Beyer was living in Lambton County, Ontario in 1877
Mathew Beyer was recorded in the Muskoka District of Ontario in 1879

Contemporary Notables of the name Beyer (post 1700) +

Richard John "Dick" Beyer (1930-2019), American professional wrestler who is best known by his ring names, The Destroyer or Doctor X, American Hall of Fame professional wrestler
Emil Beyer (1875-1934), American Olympic sliver medalist for gymnastics at the 1904 Summer Games
Donald S. "Don" Beyer (b. 1950), former Lieutenant Governor of Virginia (1990-1998)
Henry Otley Beyer (1883-1966), American anthropologist
Johanna Magdelena Beyer (1888-1944), American (Leipzig born) Chamber music composer
Sergeant Arthur O Beyer (1909-1965), United States Army soldier awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1945
Markus Beyer (1971-2018), German professional boxer, winner of the WBC super middleweight title
Frank Beyer (1932-2006), German film director, screen writer, and actor
Uwe Beyer (1945-1993), German hammer thrower
Heinz Beyer, German fighter pilot and flying ace in the Luftwaffe, during World War II, credited with 33 aerial victories
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Beyer family +

Bismarck

Artur Beyer (1920-1941), 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 4
Berthold Beyer (1920-1941), 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 4

Citations +

"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)
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details