Bernard

Bernard
This famous personal and later surname, is of pre 5th century German origins. Recorded in over one hundred different spellings ranging from Barnard, Benard, and Bernat, to Bernth, Bernucci, and Bieratowicz, it derives from the male personal name "Bernhard or Beornheard", comprising the elements "bern", meaning the bear, plus "hard", meaning brave, strong or hardy. Perhaps not surprisingly given the meaning of "Hardy bear" the name was always popular. The surname was first recorded in England in the 12th century. Here records were kept much earlier than was usual in other European countries, and England was the first country to adopt hereditary surnames as we know them today. The initial popularity of the name was also given a boost by the fame of two early saints. These were St. Bernard of Clairvaux (circa 1010 - 1153), the founder of the Cistercian monastery at Clairvaux, and St. Bernard of Menthon (923 - 1108), the founder of Alpine hospices and patron saint of mountaineers. Early examples of the surname recording include Thomas Bernhard of Cambridge, England, in the year 1260, Albertus Berenhardus of Schwenningen, Germany, in 1290, and Gregorius Bernhardt, christened at Chemnitz, Saxony, Germany, on January 18th 1549. The first recorded spelling of the family name is believed to be that of Hugo Bernard, which was dated 1130, in the "Pipe Rolls" of the city of Lincoln, England. This was during the reign of King Henry 1st, known as "The Lion of Justice", 1100 - 1135. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bernard — Bernard, St …   Philosophy dictionary

  • Bernard — als eine Variante des Namens Bernhard (in der überlieferten Bedeutung „bärenstark“) ist ein Familienname und ein männlicher Vorname. Bernard ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Al Bernard (1888–1949), US amerikanischer Vaudeville Sänger… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • BERNARD — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Pour les articles homonymes, voir Saint Bernard et Saint Bernard. Bernard est un nom propre qui peut désigner : Sommaire …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Bernard — Bernard, Claude * * * (as used in expressions) Albinus, Bernard Siegfried Baruch, Bernard (Mannes) Berenson, Bernard Bernard, Claude Henriette Rosine Bernard Bosanquet, Bernard Bernard Schwartz De Voto, Bernard (Augustine) Foucault, Jean (Bernard …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • BERNARD (C.) — Quand il monte à Paris en 1834, Claude Bernard rêve de publier un drame en vers. Le sort en décidera autrement et l’influence de Magendie fera le reste. Dépassant l’empirisme de son maître, Claude Bernard est le créateur d’une méthode… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Bernard I — (or Bernardo, Bernhard) may refer to:* Bernard of Septimania, also known as Bernard I of Toulouse (born 795) * Bernard I of Poitiers (died 844) * Bernard I of Armagnac (died 995), called the Suspicious , first duke of Armagnac * Bernard I William …   Wikipedia

  • BERNARD (T.) — BERNARD PAUL dit TRISTAN (1866 1947) Ami de Jules Renard, d’Alphonse Allais, de Courteline, de Lucien et Sacha Guitry, Tristan Bernard fait partie de ces figures qui ont marqué la vie parisienne durant toute la première moitié du XXe siècle. Plus …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Bernard II — (or Bernhard, Bernardo, c) may refer to:* Bernard II of Toulouse (died 877) * Bernard Plantapilosa (died 885), called Bernard II of Auvergne * Bernard II, Duke of Saxony (died 1059) * Bernard II Tumapaler of Gascony (died 1064x1090) * Bernard II… …   Wikipedia

  • BERNARD (É.) — BERNARD ÉMILE (1868 1941) Peintre lillois qui vient à Paris en 1881 et fréquente l’atelier de Cormon où il rencontre Van Gogh et Toulouse Lautrec. Exclu de l’atelier en 1886, Émile Bernard voyage en Normandie et en Bretagne, fait la connaissance… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • BERNARD (S.) — BERNARD SAMUEL (1651 1739) Appartenant à une famille protestante d’artistes parisiens, Samuel Bernard se convertit au catholicisme après la révocation de l’édit de Nantes. Son père était un peintre en vue qui travaillait pour l’aristocratie… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Bernard — m English and French: from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements ber(n) bear + hard hardy, brave, strong. This was the name of three famous medieval churchmen: St Bernard of Menthon (923–1008), founder of a hospice on each of the… …   First names dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”