Surname Behrs - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Behrs: What does the surname Behrs mean?
The last name Behrs is of German origin and derives from the personal name Bers or Behr, which was a popular given name in the Middle Ages. The name is thought to derive from the Old German word bere, which means "bear".
This connection to the bear conveys a message of strength and courage as the bear is an animal known for its bravery and endurance. It is believed that those with the surname were known for their determination and boldness.
The surname Behrs is still found mostly in Germany and the Netherlands, but it has spread to other parts of the world. In the United States it is most commonly found in Pennsylvania and Ohio, where it arrived with early German settlers. In other parts of the world such as Scandinavia, Brazil and Austria, descendants of the original German settlers can be found with the last name.
Generally, people with the surname Behrs are known for their practical and down-to-earth nature. They are said to be logical and competent in most areas of life. They have a deep respect for the wisdom of others and enjoy a mental challenge. Generally they are direct and honest and tend to be frugal and responsible individuals.
Order DNA origin analysisBehrs: Where does the name Behrs come from?
The last name Behrs is thought to be German in origin, with many of its earliest bearers found in various parts of Germany. Today, the last name Behrs is still quite common in Germany, especially in the northern and western parts of the country. There are also many people of Germanic descent, particularly in North America, who bear the last name Behrs and its variants.
Immigration from German-speaking countries in the 19th and 20th centuries led to a notable presence of the Behrs surname in the United States and Canada, where it ranks comparatively higher than in Germany. The United Kingdom also has a notable population of the surname, primarily concentrated in London and the South East, both home to communities of people with German or Germanic ancestry.
Behrs is also a fairly common name in other parts of Europe, particularly Scandinavia, Austria, and the Netherlands, where many people can trace their ancestry back to German immigrants during the medieval and early modern periods. Additionally, the islands of the Caribbean host a particularly large number of people with either the Behrs or similar surnames, owing to their past ties to German, mainly West Indian, trading partners.
Variations of the surname Behrs
The surname Behrs is a German patronymic surname, which originated from the given name Behr, meaning "beaver". It is a variant of the name Beer, and is found in both Germany and the United States.
Variants of the name include Baer, Bähr, Baehr, Behrs, Baehrs, Bahrs, Bear, Behrens, Behren, Behrendt, Behringer, Behrend, Behler, Birs, Ber, Berr, Beer, Beyer, Beyerle, Behring, Behrin, Behrmann, Behrmiller, Behrlein, Behrns, and Bahrens.
In the US, the surname Behrs may also appear as Beers, Bears, Beese, Bye, Baare, Bahr, Bess, Büse and Biehr.
The various spellings of the name can be attributed to the common practice of one-time immigration officials altering names when recording them upon entry into the United States. Over time and with changing cultural language influences, the name may have taken on a variety of spellings.
The variations in spelling can make it difficult to trace the ancestral relations of the surname. However, regardless of the exact spelling, the surname Behrs still indicates a common ancestor with the name Behr. All such spellings are likely related in some way, as it is quite likely that different lines of the Behrs family independently adopted slightly different spellings of their name.
Famous people with the name Behrs
- Sara Behrs: German national soccer player
- Christian Behrs: Swiss painter
- Max Behr: German-American golf course designer
- Rainer Behrs: German author
- John J. Behrs: American lawyer and jurist
- Tina Behrs: Brazilian singer-songwriter
- Satu Behrs: Finnish singer-songwriter
- Susan Behrs: American artist
- Birger Behrs: Finnish writer and political activist
- Tora Behrs: Norwegian organist
- Günter Behrs: German artist and ecological activist
- Elisabeth Behrs: Danish architect
- Claus Behrs: Danish artist
- Michael Behrs: German actor
- Paul Behrs: Austrian composer and conductor
- Roman Behrs: German-Belarusian sculptor
- Henning Behrs: German actor
- Rudolf Behrs: German sculptor
- Emil Behrs: Austrian physical chemist
- Andy Behrs: American actor