Surname Berly - Meaning and Origin
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Berly: What does the surname Berly mean?
The last name Berly is of German origin. It is derived from the German word berlich which means "clearing in the woods" or a patch of land that is suitable for grazing animals. It may have originally referred to a person living in or near such a clearing in the woods. The name appears to have been particularly prevalent in the province of Alsace.
In the United States, the surname Berly can be found most commonly among the Pennsylvania Dutch, who settled in Pennsylvania in the 17th and 18th centuries. The earliest record of the surname dates back to 1846 in Pennsylvania, according to the US Census.
The history of the Berly name is intertwined with the ebb and flow of migration from Europe to the United States. The Beery Family tree on genealogical records shows that some members of the family settled in Monroe County, Pennsylvania (outside of Stroudsburg). Other members of the family settled in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and California.
The meaning of the Berly name persists today, and is an important part of the family history. For those wishing to learn more about their family’s history, there are documents and records that might provide further clues. Additionally, researching Berly family names in other parts of the world might reveal more about the origin and history of the name.
Order DNA origin analysisBerly: Where does the name Berly come from?
The last name Berly is a surname of French origin, which is common today throughout Europe, particularly in France, Belgium, and Switzerland. It may also be found in other regions with ancestral French influence, such as Quebec and Louisiana in North American, Brazil in South America, and some former French African colonies.
Within France, the name Berly has a particularly strong presence in the country's northerly regions, particularly in the departments of Nord and Pas de Calais. Interestingly, this surname is not only found in France by itself, but also combined with other French last names; for example, the combined name Berly Gansbeke is recorded by a 19th century Belgian census from the city of Kortrijk in West Flanders.
Elsewhere in Europe, Berly remains a relatively rare surname, although it is present in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Spain. It is also common throughout the United States, with particularly high concentrations in California and New York City. In 2017, the United states census estimated that around 7,000 people were living with the surname Berly, which was a 0.002 percent share of the total US population.
Variations of the surname Berly
The surname Berly has a variety of spellings and forms, as well as alternate surnames derived from the same root. The earliest forms of the surname originating in the 12th century appear as Berli, Berly, Berlly, and Bierli. All of these spellings can maintain the same pronunciation, though be raffely and Berle are two other variations that appear later on.
Berly can take alternate forms such as Berlye, Berlych, Berlychen, Berlij, and Bierle, all of which add suffixes/endings that appear mainly in Dutch/Netherlands regions, particularly in the Eastern Flanders area.
Berly and its spellings and variants can also have connections to other surnames derived from the same root. Berlich and Burly both appear with ties to Berly, as both are descended from Berli and Berly but have evolved over time. Furthermore, Beirle, Bierly, and Berley are surnames related to both the American and German/Austrian areas, while Barlee, Barley, Barlier, Barrel, Berlen, Berliac, Berlie, Berll, Burrley, Bylle, Burley, and Burton have close connections to Berly in a variety of spellings.
Berly is a diverse and well established surname, with multiple spelling variants and related surnames reflecting its long and established family name lineage.
Famous people with the name Berly
- Miley Cyrus (née Destiny Hope Cyrus): Miley is an American singer, songwriter, and actress.
- Billy Ray Cyrus: Billy Ray is an American singer, songwriter, actor, and philanthropist.
- Estelle Berly: Estelle is a French actress.
- Jean-Baptiste Berly: Jean-Baptiste is a French politician.
- Andrew Berly: Andrew is an American YouTube star and actor.
- William Berly: William Berly is an American actor.
- Eleanor Berly: Eleanor is an American activist.
- Marcelline Berly: Marcelline is a French actress.
- Thomas Berly: Thomas is an American poet and lecturer.
- Herbert Berly: Herbert is a German painter.