Show ContentsBerueff History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Berueff family name first began to be used in the German state of Bavaria. After the 12th century, hereditary surnames were adopted according to fairly general rules, and names that were derived from locations became particularly common. The family name Berueff 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 Berueff was given to someone who lived in Bavaria. The family name Berueff can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when Bavaria was a region characterized by court intrigue and heroic battles over power and prestige. The Berueff family was involved in the ancient feuds between noble families, who competed for domination of the territory. In this era of rapidly changing political allegiances, the Berueff family aligned itself with many different noble families and their support was sought by many leaders in their search for power.

Early Origins of the Berueff family

The surname Berueff was first found in Bavaria, where the name Beruff was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. They declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region. They branched into many houses, and their contributions were sought by several leaders in their quest to maximize their power.

Early History of the Berueff family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Berueff research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1787 and 1792 are included under the topic Early Berueff History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Berueff Spelling Variations

In 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 Berueff include Beruff, Berueff, Berueffe, Berufe, Beruffe, Beruth, Beruthe, Beruthe, Berrufe, Berruffe, Berruth, Berruthe, Baruff and many more.

Early Notables of the Berueff family

Prominent among members of the name Berueff in this period include

  • Johann Heinrich Berueff ennobled in 1792

Migration of the Berueff family

The 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: Charles Beruff, who arrived in America in 1849.



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