Surname Behrends - Meaning and Origin
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Embarking on a Journey into the Behrends Past: Insights from an iGENEA DNA Test
Seldom do we get an opportunity to voyage back in time to unravel the mysteries of our ancestry. Leaping into the past, an iGENEA DNA test unzipped enigmatic layers of our lineage. The adventure revealed the historical origination of the Behrends surname from North-western Germany, flowering over the German cultural tapestry, and how its lineage persevered through various epochs.
M. Behrends
read moreBehrends: What does the surname Behrends mean?
The last name Behrends is derived from the German surname Behrend, which means "fierce and courageous". This surname is most commonly associated with northern-central Germany, and is thought to be of Slavic origins. Historically, Behrends were known as independent minded and hardworking people who strived to do the best they could with what they had.
Behrends families in the past were known to live by a set of principles, including honesty and hard work. They placed a lot of value on education, and wanted to remain independent of the larger world. In many cases, these families were among the first to settle in new locations, often heading off the beaten path to find new opportunities and challenge themselves.
Behrends families are proud of their past and values, and many today continue to consciously carry these values forward, even as they may choose to live in different parts of the world. They value independent thinking and creativity, and still strive for excellence in whatever field of work they pursue. Behrends often follow their dreams, and are willing to take the necessary risks to achieve their goals. They are unafraid to stand up for what they believe in, and their courage is to be admired.
Order DNA origin analysisBehrends: Where does the name Behrends come from?
The last name Behrends is most commonly found in areas of northern Germany along the North and Baltic Seas. This includes a number of German states such as Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, and Berlin. It is believed that the name originated from a region of Pomerania known as the Uckermark where the Behrends family line can be traced back to the 15th century.
The surname continues to be popular in these northern German regions and is also found in countries around the world with German immigrants. Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and a number of other countries have citizens with the last name Behrends.
Behrends has been adapted into different variations such as Barrends and Barents. Each of these spellings may have a slightly different origin story. For instance, Barrends may have come from Dutch settlers in the East Friesland region of Germany, while Barents may have originated from people of East Prussia.
No matter the spelling or origin story, the last name Behrends continues to be passed down within families throughout Germany and around the world.
Variations of the surname Behrends
The surname Behrends is also known by varied spellings and variants of the same origin. Some of these are Behrend, Beharnd, Berhrends, Behrendt, Bersen, Berhend, Birhend, Behrendsen, Berhendts, Behrig, Berrig, Bergholtz, Bergsten, Behrens, Bergren, Brehren and Behrensen.
Behrends is derived from the Middle High German personal name ‘Berend’, which is composed of the words "beraht" and "andi" meaning bear and hardy. This surname is popular primarily in the Northern and Eastern parts of Germany. But, its variants, spellings and surnames can also be found in countries like Denmark, Netherlands and Scandinavia.
The Behrends surname evolved as a patronymic or matronymic name, which meant that children were given the name of their father or mother as a surname. For instance, children would be given the surname of Behrends if their father’s name was ‘Berend’ or their mother’s name was ‘Berends’.
The surname was also used to denote people who lived on Berend's farm. In the old days, this surname was often spelled differently by the scribes and the common man since most were illiterate. As the family migrated from country to country, the spelling of the surname was altered to suit the native language. Over time, these variations have been adopted and spread across the globe.
Famous people with the name Behrends
- Mark Behrends: Jazz musician and vocalist based in Los Angeles
- Scott Behrends: Professional big-wave surfer
- Faye Behrends: Actress who has had roles on television and in films
- Michael Behrends: Visual effects artist who has worked for feature films such as "Interstellar" and "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"
- Mark Behrends: Two-time Olympic medalist, athlete
- Jan Behrends: Painter and illustrator from the Netherlands
- Dale Behrends: Actor, best known for his role in "Cruel Intentions"
- John Behrends: Notable clarinetist and composer from Germany
- Jenna Behrends: Singer and songwriter from the United States
- Tammy Behrends: Award-winning Broadway actress