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| Origins Available: |
| | Germany |
The surname Bernecker is thought to be derived from the Germanic personal name Bernhard, composed of the elements "bern," which means "bear" and "hard," which means "hardy," "brave," or "strong."
The surname Bernecker was first found in Westphalia, where the family Berneck came from humble beginnings, but gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging mediaeval society.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bernecker research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1352 is included under the topic Early Bernecker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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 Bernecker include Berneck, Bernecker, Bernech, Berneche, Bernneck, Bernecker, Bernach, Bernache, Bernnache, Bernack, Bernacker, Berneger, Bernicke and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Bernecker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Many Germans emigrated across the Atlantic to seek better lives in North America. This great migration began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century. Resettlement was particularly attractive to those from Westphalia as a means of escape from poverty and religious persecution. For many Westphalian farmers, the chance to own one's own land was also a major incentive. The process of 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 settlements centered around Ontario and the Prairie provinces. Among them: