Surname Byerly - Meaning and Origin

Byerly: What does the surname Byerly mean?

The last name Byerly is a German-origin surname, likely derived from the Middle High German bürele, büriel, or bürelmeister, meaning either a small city or a house master, respectively. In the medieval German system of feudalism, a bürelmeister was a lower-level nobleman who managed a small fort or castle on behalf of another lord. The Byerly family is believed to have come into being in the 18th or 19th centuries, likely as a response to the need for more organized land management.

The Byerly surname is most common in the United States, where it has been carried by many families over generations. Historically, Byerly immigrants typically settled in America’s Midwestern states, often in Virginia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, as well as in Pennsylvania. In Germany, the name is still prevalent in some rural areas of the country, and a few families are known to have emigrated to South Africa.

Many Byerlys are descended from immigrants who worked as farmers and craftsmen, but some of the family’s more modern descendants have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, and educators. Other branches have also followed a military tradition, with several serving in the US Armed Services.

The Byerlys remain proud of their family name’s distinctive history, with some members actively researching and preserving its genealogical records. In recent years, the family’s many branches have gathered for reunions to celebrate their past and renew their connection to their forebears.

Byerly: Where does the name Byerly come from?

The Byerly surname is common in the United States today. It has spread all over the country, with populations concentrated in some states more than others. Historically, the Byerly family first made their way to America in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, primarily settling in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia.

Over the next few centuries, many members of the family migrated into other parts of the United States. The Byerly family can now be found in major states such as California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois, among many others. Smaller populations can be found in Montana, Colorado, Nevada, Georgia, and South Carolina.

The Byerly surname is also well represented in the UK, mostly in the counties of Lancashire and Derbyshire. It may have some transmission in Wales as well, although this could not be easily confirmed.

The Byerly surname is also common in Canada, especially in parts of Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.

The Byerly name is also found in Germany, though the number is considerably fewer than in the United States and Canada.

Overall the Byerly surname is spread widely across the United States, the UK, Canada, and parts of Germany. Its presence has grown significantly since the 16th and 17th centuries, testament to the family’s migration throughout the years.

Variations of the surname Byerly

The Byerly surname is of English origin and is derived from "burgh," an Old English word meaning settlement, village or city. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin as Byerly include Birl, Birley, Burlee, Byrlee, Birlie, Bierly, Birlee, Byrly, Birlow, Berlow, Berley, Burley, Birly, Berly, Birlo, Burlo and Birlie.

Variants of the Byerly surname typically indicate the geographic origin of the surname's first bearer. Some of these origin locations include Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Lancashire and Cheshire. The presence of the Byerly surname in Yorkshire historically dates back to the 11th century and was initially spelt as Berelay, which is of Viking origin. Variants of Berelay include Bureley, Berlley, Berley, Birley and Birlow.

Birl, Byrlee and Byrly variants are often found in Lancashire and came into existence in the 17th century. The Byrlee and Byrly variants are unique to the Lancashire area, while Burlee is more associated with Derbyshire. Birley is a thickly populated surname in the Yorkshire region, as well as Cheshire and Lincolnshire.

Today, the Byerly surname is common throughout North America, Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa and other English-speaking nations. This suggests that the Byerly surname has numerous variants and spellings, and some geographical variations, which reflect the many locations to which the surname's first bearer migrated.

Famous people with the name Byerly

• Kaylen Byerly: an actress known for her roles in Lemonade Mouth, Good Luck Charlie, and Fosters
• Ashley Byerly: a former professional basketball player
• Drew Byerly: a professional skateboarder
• Jack Byerly: a professional ice hockey player
• Trey Byerly: a professional motocross and supercross racer
• Logan Byerly: an actor known for his roles in The Fosters and All Hail King Julien
• Dan Byerly: a professional BMX racer
• Melissa Byerly: a professional snowboarder
• Nick Byerly: a professional snowboarder
• Justin Byerly: a professional cyclist

Other surnames

Byerley