Surname Bäring - Meaning and Origin

Bäring: What does the surname Bäring mean?

The surname Bäring is of Germanic origin, derived from a personal name which contained the element “bera,” meaning “bear”. Thus, it was likely intended as a nickname or source of pride for a person who resembled a bear in some way, either physically or behaviorally.

Variations of the name have been found in Germany since at least the 12th century. During this period, the family’s influence spread from its roots in what is now the state of Thuringia, down to Hesse and Saxony.

The name has also been used in other countries, such as Sweden and Finland. It was brought to these countries by immigrants from Germany, where it often became simplified to “Bär” or “Bäring.”

The most significant bearer of the name was the German mathematician and astronomer Erich Bäring, who is best known is for his contributions to mathematical astronomy and astrometry.

As a surname, Bäring continues to be common in Germany and Scandinavia today. It can also be found in other countries due to German immigrants. It is a reminder of the proud and ancient Germanic roots that exist in many families today.

Bäring: Where does the name Bäring come from?

The last name Bäring is most commonly found in German-speaking countries, particularly Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is believed to be a patronymic surname derived from the Germanic Bero or Bera, which means bear. The Germanic bero was adopted into Old High German as bero or beren, which became bären and bering before giving rise to the surname Bäring.

In Germany, Bäring is a relatively rare surname, though it does appear throughout the country, primarily in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Bavaria. In Austria, the surname is more common, though it is still considered rare. There, it is chiefly found in Upper Austria and Styria. In Switzerland, the surname has been found most prevalently around cantons such as Thurgau, Zurich, St. Gallen, and Bern.

In the United States, people with the surname Bäring have primarily settled in the Midwest, with the highest concentrations of Bärings being found in Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Illinois. In Canada, the surname is most commonly found in Ontario and the Atlantic provinces.

The Bäring surname has also been found in other parts of Europe, especially the Netherlands, France, and Poland, as well as in Russia and other former Soviet republics, which may be the result of migrations or other inter-European connections.

Variations of the surname Bäring

The surname Bäring is a German and Scandinavian patronymic surname derived from the personal name "Bärin," likely derived from an old Germanic word for "bear." Variants of the surname Bäring include Baring, Behring, Berring, Beharing, Beharinger, Berenger, and Behringer.

Baring is the most common Old English variant of the surname Bäring, and is known to include the influential banking family, Baring Brothers & Co. The surname Baring is also most popularly borne by the 7th Baron Ashburton, Sir Francis Baring. Other variants such as Behring mostly occur in Germany and Scandinavia, with the surname Behringer taking more of a wide spread global presence.

The surname Bäring has a notable presence throughout Europe with roots in the Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. It is also present in various parts of central and eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and parts of Poland and Ukraine.

In individual countries, the surname Bäring is known to take on a variety of phonetic spellings and spelling variants depending on region and ethnic influence. For example, in Poland the surname Bäring is known to take on the version Barlenka, and in Hungary it is known to be spelled as Beringer.

Despite existing regional variants, all patronymic versions of the surname Bäring ultimately trace back to the same Old Germanic roots.

Famous people with the name Bäring

• “Berlin Bear” aka “Mr. Bärry” (real name: Bernd Bäring), German-Bulgarian leading drag and cabaret artist.
• Meike Bäring, German Paralympian athlete.
• Gisela Bäring, German poet and translator.
• Francisca Bäring, German actor and director.
• Reed Bäring, American actor, writer, and director.
• Brent Bäring, American academic from the Department of Plant Science at California Polytechnic State University.
• Christa Bäring, German politician.
• Katrin Bäring, German politician.
• Lisa Bäring, German musician.
• Joanne Bäring, Canadian film producer.
• Katharina Bäring, German actress.
• Holger Bäring, German music producer.
• Patricia Bäring, German actress.
• Dennis Bäring, European model, a finalist on an Austrian version of the TV series "America's Next Top Model".
• Hans Bäring, former German international footballer.
• Julia Bäring, German-American soprano opera singer.
• Jim Bäring, former professional football player.
• Dave Bäring, German-American musician of folk music.
• Martha Bäring, German author, non-fiction writer, and translator.
• Dierk Bäring, former German international footballer.

Other surnames

BaringerBäringhausen