Surname Berendsohn - Meaning and Origin
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Berendsohn: What does the surname Berendsohn mean?
The last name Berendsohn is a German surname derived from the first name Bernard. The name "Bernard" was first recorded within the German language in the Middle Ages and is a combination of the German words "beraht" which means bear and "hard" which means brave or hardy. The "sohn" element of the name indicates that the original bearer of the name was the son of someone named Bernard.
Historically, the name may have referred to a family that was famous for raising bears, or perhaps for some other kind of bravery. In Germany, especially in the 19th century, many last names were adopted by people who had been born out of wedlock. These children would often take the name of their biological father, and the surname Berendsohn could have originated this way too.
Today, the last name remains a common name throughout Germany, and is found in other countries such as the Netherlands and the United States where people with German ancestry have settled. In the United States, the surname has been Americanized to Barnson, Berentson, Bernson and Barenson. The surname continues to be associated with bravery and strength in modern times.
Order DNA origin analysisBerendsohn: Where does the name Berendsohn come from?
The last name Berendsohn is mainly found in German speaking countries today, with the highest concentration in Germany. It is thought to be of Germanic origin, derived from the personal name Berend which means 'fiery bear'.
According to records, Berendsohn is the 547th most common surname in Germany, with an estimated 13,489 bearers. Within the US, the surname is not as common, with the Social Security Administration showing fewer than 600 individuals with that surname.
The largest cluster of Berendsohn households in Germany is located in Lower Saxony, a state in the northwest of the country. Another concentrated network is located throughout the states of Saxony-Anhalt, Hesse, and Thuringia, which is in central Germany.
In the 19th century, the availability of employment in Germany led to several members of the Berendsohn family to emigrate to other parts of the world, including the US, Canada, Australia, and Brazil. Today, the surname is spread across South Africa, Argentina, Switzerland, Sweden, Zimbabwe, Mexico, the UK, and many other countries.
Variations of the surname Berendsohn
The surname Berendsohn is of German origin, and variations, spellings, and derivatives of it are quite common. The most common variations are Behrendsohn, Berendson, Behrendson, Behrendt, Berndt and Berendt. Depending on the area of origin, it may also appear under alternate spellings such as Burgerndson, Burrendson, Burrendt, Burrendsohn, Behrend, Berend, Berndl and Barndl.
Variant spellings of Berendsohn also bear resemblance to Berndson which is derived from the German personal name Berchtfriden (meaning “strong peace”, or “strong freedom”) and Behrend, which is derived from the Old German word behr, meaning “a bear”. It is thought the surname was taken on by those people who were thought to be particularly brave or strong in battle.
Alternate spellings of Berendsohn may be found under Angelsohn, Berenzohn, Berndsohn, Brantsohn, Brendsohn, Brendstorff and Ehrensohn. The German spelling of the surname is Berendsohn.
Common variants and derivatives of Berendsohn include Berndson, Behrendson, Behrendsohn, Behrendtsohn, Berndson, Berntson and Bernhardtson. These may also have slight alterations in spelling such as Behrends, Berends and Behrens.
Common surnames in countries where German or Dutch are spoken may be similar to Berendsohn. Examples include Breitfuss, Beerts, Berendes, Boersma, Bergsma and Bergeron.
In summary, the surname Berendsohn has numerous spellings and variations, making it difficult to spell accurately. However, all variations are believed to be of German or Dutch origin and have a strong association with bravery and strength.
Famous people with the name Berendsohn
- Noam Berendsohn: Israeli footballer who plays as a defender and captains the Israeli Premier League Hapoel Beer Sheva.
- Erik Berendsohn: German-American conductor and music director who has guided tenors such as Jussi Björling and Peter Schreier.
- Jakob Berendsohn: Danish Olympic sailor.
- Johannes Berendsohn: German surgeon and professor of anatomy who wrote several important works on the spine.
- Joël van den Berendsohn: Dutch molecular biologist, biochemist and entrepreneur who founded the life sciences venture capital firm, Dementia Ventures.
- Julia Berendsohn: German comedian and actress, best known for playing Stradivarius Tempest in the television series Bridgerton.
- Axel Berendsohn: German entrepreneur and philanthropist who co-founded the internet media company Huffington Post.
- Theodor Berendsohn: German zoologist and entomologist best known for his expertise on Palaearctic butterflies.
- Nelly Berendsohn: French-German mathematician and learning theorist, best known for her research on child development and theories of embodied cognition.
- Zuzanna Berendsohn: Polish contemporary artist and curator, best known for her exploration of the space-object relationship.