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![Show Contents]() Berndorffer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Germany
The ancestral home of the Berndorffer family was in the German state of Bavaria. Berndorffer is a local name for a person who lived in Bavaria. During the Middle Ages, when feudalism, chivalry, and knighthood characterized Europe, heroic battles over power and prestige were fought between the noble families. In an age of rapidly changing political and religious alliances, the Berndorffer family declared their loyalty to many different noblemen and princes who sought their support in the conflicts of the day. Consequently, the Berndorffer family made a vital contribution to the ancient German traditions of military initiation, legality, and chivalry. Early Origins of the Berndorffer familyThe surname Berndorffer was first found in Bavaria, where the name Berndorf made a great early contribution to the feudal society of early Europe. The name Berndorf became prominent in local affairs and branched into many houses where family members continued to play important roles in the savage tribal and national conflicts which resulted as each group sought to maximize its power and status in an ever changing territorial profile. Early History of the Berndorffer familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Berndorffer research. Another 148 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1506 and 1521 are included under the topic Early Berndorffer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Berndorffer Spelling VariationsIn 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 Berndorffer include Berndorf, Berndorff, Berndorfer, Berndorffer, Burndorf, Burndorff, Berndorphe, Berndorp, Berndorper, Berntorf, Berntorff, Berntorffer, Barndorf, Baerndorf, Barndorff, Baerndorff, Barndorffer, Baerndorffer, Barndorp, Baerndorp, Barndorper, Baerndorper, Barntorf, Baerntorf, Barntorff, Baerntorff, Barntorffer and many more. Early Notables of the Berndorffer familyProminent among members of the name Berndorffer in this period include - Caspar Berndorffer, Bavarian politician during the time of Duke Wilhem
Migration of the Berndorffer familyBetween the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries, German settlers arrived in North America by the thousands. Persecution based on religion and poverty were great motivators in this large-scale migration. So too was the opportunity for tenant farmers to own their own land. Ample land and opportunity awaited the settlers who went to such states as Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, as well as Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Berndorffer or a variant listed above: C. W. Berndorff, who arrived in New York, NY in 1862.
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