Surname Berends - Meaning and Origin
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Berends: What does the surname Berends mean?
The last name Berends is of Dutch or German origin. The name Berends likely derived from the given name ‘Berend’, which is a derivative of Bernard. Some variations of the family name Berends include Berend, Berendsen, Berger and Berenssen.
The name Berend has multiple meanings, depending on its origin. In Dutch, the name can mean “the brave,” while in German, it can mean “bear strength.” Historically, it has been associated with characters in Germanic folklore, as well as in literature written in the Middle Ages.
People with the last name Berends were early settlers in the United States. According to records, some of the earliest Berends immigrants to the US arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the late 1800s. They likely settled in states such as New York, Pennsylvania, and Iowa. Today, there are still many people with the last name Berends living throughout the US.
In summary, the last name Berends is of Dutch or German origin and was used by early settlers in the US. The name is derived from the given name ‘Berend’, which has multiple meanings depending on its origin. The name has been associated with characters in Germanic folklore and Middle Ages literature. People with this last name continue to live in the US today.
Order DNA origin analysisBerends: Where does the name Berends come from?
The surname Berends is most commonly found in the Netherlands, specifically in the northern province of Friesland. It is believed to have originated there, and is the most common in that region even today. The name was first recorded in Friesland in the 14th century, and is derived from the Germanic personal name Bernard or Berend, which was popular in medieval Europe.
Outside of Friesland, the surname Berends can be found in several other European countries including Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as in countries with strong Dutch heritage such as the United States, Canada, South Africa, and Australia. In the US in particular, the surname is most common in the Midwest region, particularly in states such as Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
Today, the surname Berends is estimated to be held by around 12,000 people across the globe, and is still most strongly represented in the Netherlands, particularly in Friesland. However, it has increased in popularity elsewhere in Europe and in the Americas in recent years.
Variations of the surname Berends
The surname Berends is of Dutch origin and may have been derived from the given names Berend and Berendt, both of which were derived from the Germanic name Bernard which means "strong, brave bear". The different variants of the surname Berends, its spellings, and its different origins are often found in geographical and historical records.
One variant of Berends is Beerends. This particular variant of the surname is commonly found in in Friesland, a province in the northern Netherlands.
The surname Berends is often seen misspelled as Barthends, Beerendts, and Beerendtz. The misspelling of the name is quite common because it can be difficult to differentiate between the Dutch ‘d’ and the Dutch ‘t’.
Another variant of the surname is Berens. This was a common spelling of the name in Germany. The German form of the name was derived from the Low German term for ‘bear’, which was beorn.
Variants of Berends in other countries may have slightly different spellings. In Denmark, for example, the surname may have been spelled Beerenfeldt and in Norway, it often appears as Berntzen.
The surname Berends is also seen with two other surnames which have the same origin: Barens and Barents. The surname Barents is found mainly in Dutch regions, while Barens was found more in the northeast of Germany.
Many variants of Berends are derived from a historical association with 'bear', 'strong', and 'brave'. Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of the name has altered, resulting in an increasingly varied range of different spellings of the name.
Famous people with the name Berends
- Bernard Berends: former Australian politician
- Shannon Berends: South African newsreader
- Timothy Berends: American ice hockey player
- John Berends: Dutch politician
- Dick Berends: Dutch artist
- Rudi Berends: professional footballer
- Hannes Berends: professional cyclist
- Mathieu Berends: Dutch artist
- Jelle Berends: Dutch paralympic athlete
- Hennie Berends: Dutch opera singer