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 Berney family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Berney Family History

Berney Surname Meaning

English: variant of Burney.

Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Biorna ‘son of Biorna’. See Burney 2 and McBurney.

French: from a derivative of the personal name Bernard or any other name composed of the ancient Germanic element ber(n) ‘bear’.

Jewish (American): from a derivative of the Yiddish personal name Ber.

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 Berney family from?

You can see how Berney families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Berney family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Berney families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 56 Berney families living in Lancashire. This was about 26% of all the recorded Berney's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Berney families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Berney 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 Berney ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Incapacitated and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Berney. 34% of Berney men worked as an Incapacitated and 70% of Berney women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Berney were Head Hotel Chef and Domestic Servant.

View Census Data for Berney | 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

  • Incapacitated
    34%
  • Railway Clerk
    23%
  • Private Means
    23%
  • Head Hotel Chef
    23%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    70%
  • Private Means
    14%
  • Incapacitated
    6%
  • Domestic Servant
    4%

What Berney family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 14,000 census records available for the last name Berney. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Berney census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Berney

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Berney. For the veterans among your Berney ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Berney military records

You've only scratched the surface of Berney family history

Discover More

What is the average Berney lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2004, in the United States, Berney life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Berney in 1959 was 48, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Berney

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Berney 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 Berney family tree

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