Bern History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Early Origins of the Bern family

The surname Bern was first found in Berne, Switzerland, where the family is considered to have made a great early contribution to the feudal society which became the backbone of early development of Europe. Founded by Duke Berthold V of Zaehringen (in the Black Forest) in 1191, Berne became a Free City in 1218. Against the invading armies of Rudolph of Habsburg, Berne successfully defended itself and joined the Swiss Confederation in 1353. Berne retains its mediaeval character to this day, and has been the capital of Switzerland since 1848. The majority of its inhabitants speak German and are Protestants, a religious heritage left over from the time of the Reformation. The name comes from the German "Baeren" (bears) and a bear still appears on the city's coat of arms. Other branches bearing this name stemmed from the town Berna in Lusatia. The first individual bearers of this name to be mentioned in ancient chronicles include Bernerus miles de Wil, who was born in Zuerich in 1259.

Early History of the Bern family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bern research. Another 320 words (23 lines of text) covering the years 1371, 1400, 1590, 1636, 1683 and 1778 are included under the topic Early Bern History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bern Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Bern, Berne, Bernn, Bernne, Berns, Bernes, Bernert, Baern, Boern and many more.

Early Notables of the Bern family

Notables of the time with the surname Bern were

Justus Friedrich von Berner (d.1778), who was Privy Councillor and Administrative Vice-President in Kassel...

Bern migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bern Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Georg Anastasius Bern, who settled in Philadelphia in 1740
William Bern, who arrived in America in 1743
Daniel Bern, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 [1]
Johannes Bern, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 [1]
Peter Bern, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1750 [1]
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bern Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Louis Bern, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1854 [1]
Sophie Bern, aged 23, who landed in New York, NY in 1869 [1]

Bern migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Bern Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Bern, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Pestonjee Bomanjee" in 1851 [2]

Contemporary Notables of the name Bern (post 1700) +

Dan "Bernstein" Bern (b. 1965), American guitarist, singer, songwriter, novelist and painter
Paul Bern (1889-1932), German-born, American film director, screenwriter and producer for MGM
Howard Alan Bern (b. 1920), American professor of zoology and a research endocrinologist
Ivar Bern (b. 1967), Norwegian chess player
Alexander Bern Bruce (b. 1853), American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Lawrence, Massachusetts, 1886-87; Candidate for Governor of Massachusetts, 1898; Candidate for U.S. Representative from Massachusetts 5th District, 1904 [3]
Bern L. Budd, American politician, Member of Connecticut State Senate 10th District, 1872. Interment somewhere in Hartford, Connecticut [4]
Bern Budd, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Senate 27th District, 1936. Interment somewhere in Warwick, New York [4]
Bern Nix (1947-2017), American jazz guitarist
Bern Budd Gallaudet (1860-1934), American surgeon
Bern Nadette Stanis (b. 1953), American television actress

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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PESTONJEE BOMANJEE 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Marion.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 3) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html