Berger Family History

German Dutch Swedish and Jewish (Ashkenazic): topographic name for someone who lived in the mountains or hills (see Berg). The surname of German origin is also found in many other European countries e.g. in France (Alsace and Lorraine) Russia Poland Czechia Hungary and Croatia and Slovenia often as a translation into German of corresponding Slavic topographic names or surnames.

As a Jewish name it is mainly artificial. Compare Bargar Barger Barker Barrier and Barriger. French: occupational name from Old French bergier ‘shepherd’ (from Late Latin berbicarius from berbex ‘ram’).

It is also found in England as a surname of Huguenot origin. Compare Shepard. Norwegian: habitational name from any of various farms so named with the plural of Berg ‘mountain’.

French Canadian: shortened form of German Nürnberger (see Nurnberger).