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![Show Contents]() Berndorphe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Germany
The Berndorphe 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 Berndorphe 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 Berndorphe was given to someone 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 Berndorphe family declared their loyalty to many different noblemen and princes who sought their support in the conflicts of the day. Consequently, the Berndorphe family made a vital contribution to the ancient German traditions of military initiation, legality, and chivalry. Early Origins of the Berndorphe familyThe surname Berndorphe 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 Berndorphe familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Berndorphe research. Another 148 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1506 and 1521 are included under the topic Early Berndorphe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Berndorphe Spelling VariationsOne 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 Berndorphe 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 Berndorphe familyMore information is included under the topic Early Berndorphe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Berndorphe familyThe 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: C. W. Berndorff, who arrived in New York, NY in 1862.
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