Berle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Berle

What does the name Berle mean?

The ancestral home of the Berle family is Bavaria. Berle is a local name for a person who lived in Bavaria, where the family possessed vast estates and resided in an elegant feudal manor. During the Middle Ages, the Berle family became a part of the landed aristocracy and wielded considerable prestige and influence in the region. The Berle family expanded into other parts of the German territories after the 16th century. Following the general pattern of great European migration, and specific interests in military, political and religious occupations, bearers of the name relocated and prospered in numerous different regions on the European continent. The family became a prominent contributor to the development of ancient Bavarian towns such as Rothenburg.

Early Origins of the Berle family

The surname Berle was first found in Bavaria, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the towns such as Rothenburg from ancient times. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation.

Early History of the Berle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Berle research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Berle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Berle Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Berle include Berl, Berle, Berler, Behrle, Behrli, Berlere and many more.

Early Notables of the Berle family

More information is included under the topic Early Berle Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Berle migration to Canada +

Between 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 Berle or a variant listed above:

Berle Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Nicola Berle, who landed in Quebec in 1766

Contemporary Notables of the name Berle (post 1700) +

Marshall Berle, American nephew of Milton Berle, was manager of the Los Angeles rock bands Spirit, Van Halen, and Ratt
Milton Berle (1908-2002), American comedian and actor and the first major star of US television
Adolf Augustus Berle Jr., American lawyer and public official
Klaus Berle (b. 1962), German professional footballer
Berle Mark Schiller (1944-2025), United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (2000-2025)
Berle Brant (b. 1989), Estonian footballer who plays as a defender for Saku Sporting and the Estonia women's national team