Surname Bähre - Meaning and Origin
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Bähre: What does the surname Bähre mean?
The last name Bähre is a German surname found in parts of Scandinavia and the German-speaking regions of Central Europe. The name is derived from the Old High German bera and refers to a personal name meaning 'the bear'. It is also thought to be derived from the Old High German word Bär, meaning 'a bear or boar'.
The name is thought to have originally referred to a physical description, likely a nickname for someone with a stout or stocky build, an aggressive personality, or thick fur or hair. It is also possible that Bähre was used as a locational name, successively from the German word Bären meaning 'home of a bear'.
In modern times, the name has seen a resurgence in popularity, as it often carries a strong sense of masculinity and boldness. It can also lend a hint of history, and despite its physical-based implications, the name implies a gentle and kind character.
In some areas, the surname Bähre has been altered to ‘Behre’, while documents from the 19th century suggest other variations such as Behme or Bämme. Today, the name is mostly found under its original form - Bähre - and is still common in the areas of Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland.
Order DNA origin analysisBähre: Where does the name Bähre come from?
The surname Bähre is most common in Germany today. It is likely of German origin and is derived from the German word beere, meaning 'berry.' The name is quite widespread in Germany, though it does also appear in some other countries, such as Finland, Denmark, and Sweden.
In Germany, the highest concentration of the surname Bähre is in the northern region of the country, particularly in the states of Schleswig-Holstein, Nordrhein-Westfalen, and Lower Saxony. The name is also quite common in Bremen, Hamburg, and other cities throughout the country. In many cases, the name is recorded in early documents as a toponymic, which is a name derived from a geographic feature such as a river or a hill.
The surname Bähre is not overly common in other countries, though it does appear in some parts of Europe. For instance, it appears in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Romania. Very small numbers of the name appear in Canada and the United States, likely due to German emigration.
The exact origin of the surname Bähre is not clear, but it is thought to be an occupational surname. In medieval Germany, Bähre was likely used to refer to someone who owned or worked in a berry garden or field. It could also refer to berry pickers or berry traders. Today, the surname is most commonly found in Germany, and is a reminder of a distant occupational past.
Variations of the surname Bähre
The surname Bähre is of Germanic or Saxon origin, and is an old personal name deriving from Bahr or Bare, meaning ‘bear’. The variants of the surname include Behre, Bare, Bar, Behr, Bähr, Baehr, Baur, Baurle, Baehrle, Baier, Bauer, Bäuerlein, Bael, Baiers or Bayers. These variants can be found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Alsace.
The spelling of Bähre often changes with language and location, and can also be written as Bähr, Baer, Bär or Behr. In German, it is more commonly known as Bähre, and in English speakers countries, it is usually spelled Bare, Behre or Behr.
Many of the variants in the original Saxon language and spelling of Bähre can also be found in other languages such as Dutch, Danish and Swedish. In Dutch, the variants are Baehr and Baehrle, and in Danish and Swedish, the variants are Baehr, Baehrle and Bæhr.
The surnames of Behre and Behr are related to the Bähres and are derived from the older German personal name Bahr. It is believed that the surname began to appear in Germany as early as the 13th century, and most likely originated from a family or clan who adopted the father’s names as the family surname.
Many of the surnames related to Bähre are common place in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and can also be found in many North American regions. While the spellings have been altered, the basic meaning of the surname remains the same, that being ‘bear’.
Famous people with the name Bähre
- Philipp Bähre: A German soccer player.
- Julian Bähre: A German actor known for his appearances in The Three Musketeers, Renes Seelenwelt and The Old Fox.
- Manfred Bähre: An award-winning German writer and journalist.
- Victor Bähre: A prominent German composer and pianist known for his solo recitals and works for international orchestras.
- Konstantin Bähre: A German politician and frontman for the center-right Christian Democratic Union.
- Johannes Bähre: A German film producer and director best known for his films Angels Don't Sleep Here and Fragments of Memory.
- Heike Bähre: A German actress and musician known for her appearances in TV series' such as The Old Fox and drama films such as Betrayed.
- Mathias Bähre: A German football player and manager active in Germany's lower leagues.
- Marcel Bähre: A German actor known for his appearances in Ein Tag im Leben, Die drei Musketiere and Ruf nach dem Strand.
- Thomas Bähre: A German composer and arranger known for his composition for the play Falscher Pass.