Beir History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The German state of Bavaria is the ancestral home of the Beir family. Beir is a local name, first used as a surname for 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. Beir 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 Beir family

The surname Beir 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 Beir family

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

Beir Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Beir include Beyer, Beyere, Beyerre, Beier, Beir, Beiere, Beierre and many more.

Early Notables of the Beir family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Beir Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beir migration to the United States +

European migration to North America began in the mid-17th century and continued unabated until the mid-20th. Many Bavarians made the long trip to escape poverty or persecution based on their religious beliefs. The chance for tenant farmers to own their own land was also a major drawing card. They settled all across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many came to Canada also, settling in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Beirs to arrive in North America, and among them were:

Beir Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johann Andreas Beir, aged 57, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1738 1

Beir 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:

Beir Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Ms. Jane Beir, (b.1841), aged 21, Cornish settler departing on 18th December 1862 aboard the ship "Huntress" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 21st April 1863 2

Citations +

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)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf