This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Bern family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Bern Family History

Bern Surname Meaning

German and Scandinavian: from a short form of an ancient Germanic personal name formed with ber(n) ‘bear’ e.g. Bernhard.

South German: habitational name from Bern Switzerland.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Bern family from?

You can see how Bern families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bern family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bern families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 17 Bern families living in London. This was about 24% of all the recorded Bern's in United Kingdom. London and 1 other county had the highest population of Bern families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bern surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Bern ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Mens Outfitter Retail Shopkeeper and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Bern. 50% of Bern men worked as a Mens Outfitter Retail Shopkeeper and 91% of Bern women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bern were Agricultural Labourer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Bern | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Mens Outfitter Retail Shopkeeper
    50%
  • Agricultural Labourer
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    91%
  • Housewife
    10%

What Bern family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 13,000 census records available for the last name Bern. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bern census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Bern

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Bern. 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 Bern immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Bern military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bern family history

Discover More

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Bern family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial