Surname Beery - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Beery: What does the surname Beery mean?
The last name Beery is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derived from an Old English personal name, Beornheard, which is composed of elements "beorn" meaning young warrior and "heard" meaning hard, hardy, brave, or strenuous. Therefore, Beery can be loosely translated to mean 'hardy warrior'. The Anglo-Saxon tribes in England believed in names reflecting the qualities of a person, and hence the Old English root of Beery was associated with individuals possessing toughness or a fighting spirit. During the Middle Ages, the practice of adopting surnames became more common and the progenitors of the Beery family started using it as their surname. Note that like many surnames, the spelling of the name may have altered over the centuries and it may exist in various forms such as Bery, Berry, Berrie, and others. The Beery family has a notable presence in the United States, notably the actor Wallace Beery, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in "The Champ" in 1931.
Order DNA origin analysisBeery: Where does the name Beery come from?
The surname Beery is believed to have likely derived from Bavaria, a region in Germany, and it is considered of German origin. It appears as though the name can be traced back to the Middle Ages and possibly to individuals who were beer brewers or sellers (based on the Middle High German "ber", meaning beer.), thus the surname.
While it is found in a few places globally today, persons with the surname Beery primarily reside in the United States. This is due to early migration patterns where many people from Germany moved to the United States in the 17th and 18th centuries, including those carrying the Beery name. It was particularly common amongst the Pennsylvania Dutch communities, which were predominantly of German descent. Despite its German origins, the surname isn't as prevalent in Germany as one might expect. In contemporary times, it can be found concentrated in the states of Ohio, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Still, please bear in mind that the name is quite uncommon overall, meaning it isn't one that you'll encounter frequently.
Variations of the surname Beery
The surname Beery is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English words "beo," which means "bee," and "geard," referring to an enclosed place or yard. The surname may have been originated as a nickname for an industrious person or could have indicated a person living near a bee yard.
There are different spellings and variations of the surname Beery, including Berry, Bury, Beri, Beerey, Bearey, Beyry and Beury. These various spellings have developed over time due to regional accents, changes in spelling standards, and simple recording errors. It's the same surname, but spelled in diverse ways that sound phonetically similar.
The surname has a similarity with the very common surname "Berry", which could be confusing sometimes, as "Berry" is also found in many countries as both a surname and a first name.
There are also other similar surnames such as Bear, Beer, and Beers which could possibly be related. The Beery surname is found in many English-speaking countries, but primarily in the United States, England, and Canada. Some of the variations may have developed in specific regions and then spread as families moved.
Regardless of the different spellings, all these variants point back to the same occupational or locational origin.
Famous people with the name Beery
- Wallace Beery: An American film and television actor. He was one of MGM's most significant stars and a dominant figure in Hollywood during the 1930s.
- Noah Beery Sr.: An American actor, he was the elder brother of Wallace Beery and the father of Noah Beery Jr., both renowned actors as well.
- Noah Beery Jr.: Known for his role in the TV series "The Rockford Files", he was an American actor and the son of Noah Beery Sr.
- Bucklind Beery: American actor, and the son of Noah Beery Jr.
- Carol Ann Beery: An American child actress, daughter to Noah Beery Jr.
- Harold Beery: American horse breeder, closely associated with the Arabian horse breed.
- William Beery: Renowned American football player and coach during the early 20th century.
- Ernest Beery: A successful American basketball coach.
- Etienne Beery: A former footballer from Trinidad and Tobago, recognized for his participation in international championships. Please note that while these individuals share the same surname, that doesn't imply they are necessarily related.