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Bernier Family History

Bernier Surname Meaning

French: from the personal name Bernier composed of the ancient Germanic elements bern ‘bear’ + hari ‘army’.

Compare Barney and Barnier.

North German: habitational name from a place so named in Mecklenburg.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Bernier family from?

You can see how Bernier families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bernier family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bernier families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1891 there were 5 Bernier families living in Channel Islands. This was about 45% of all the recorded Bernier's in United Kingdom. Channel Islands had the highest population of Bernier families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bernier surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Bernier ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Bernier. 19% of Bernier men worked as a Laborer and 8% of Bernier women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bernier were Salesman and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Bernier | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    19%
  • Carpenter
    7%
  • Weaver
    4%
  • Salesman
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    8%
  • Clerk
    6%
  • Weaver
    5%
  • Housekeeper
    5%

What Bernier family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 77,000 census records available for the last name Bernier. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bernier census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Bernier

Passenger Lists

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Bernier. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Bernier immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 9,000 military records available for the last name Bernier. For the veterans among your Bernier ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bernier military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bernier family history

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What is the average Bernier lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Bernier life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Bernier in 1943 was 32, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bernier

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bernier ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Bernier family tree

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