Behr
A German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) surname referring to someone who lived near or worked with bears.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 4,422 Americans carry the last name Behr. That puts it at #8,659 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.29 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 77,511 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Behr surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
4.4K
1 in 77,511
Census rank
#8,659
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,795 bearers of the surname Behr in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.29 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 8659th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Behr, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Behr
The surname BEHR is of German origin, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "bero," meaning "bear," suggesting that the name may have initially been used as a nickname or descriptive term for someone who possessed bear-like qualities or lived in an area populated by bears.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the BEHR surname can be found in the "Codex Diplomaticus Anhaltinus," a collection of historical documents from the Anhalt region in Germany, dating back to the 12th century. This document mentions a certain "Bero de Velwen" in 1184, suggesting that the BEHR surname may have been in use as early as the 12th century.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the BEHR surname appeared in various historical records across various regions of Germany, including the "Traditiones Fuldenses" from the Fulda Abbey and the "Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae" from Saxony. These records often mentioned individuals with the BEHR surname in connection with land ownership and legal transactions.
One notable historical figure bearing the BEHR surname was Johann Balthasar Behr (1675-1738), a German lawyer and legal scholar who served as a judge in the Imperial Chamber Court of the Holy Roman Empire. His influential work, "De Jure Principis Civitatis Evangelicae," published in 1717, addressed legal issues concerning Protestant territories within the Holy Roman Empire.
In the realm of art, the BEHR surname is associated with the German painter and engraver Joachim Franz Behr (1639-1698), known for his religious and allegorical works. His engravings and etchings, such as "The Crucifixion" and "The Life of the Virgin Mary," are highly regarded and can be found in various art collections around the world.
Another notable figure was the German botanist and entomologist Wilhelm Behr (1775-1853), who made significant contributions to the study of insects and plants. He was involved in the exploration and documentation of the natural flora and fauna of Russia and is credited with discovering several new species of insects.
In the 19th century, the BEHR surname gained prominence in the United States, particularly in Texas. One notable individual was Herman Behr (1819-1904), a German-American entomologist who extensively studied the insect life of California and was instrumental in establishing the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.
Throughout history, the BEHR surname has been associated with various variations and spellings, such as Behr, Beehr, Bere, and Bere, reflecting regional dialects and language variations within Germany and other parts of Europe.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Behr
Among Census respondents with the surname Behr, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Behr bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Behr surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.6%
- Hispanic or Latino1.8%
- Two or more races1.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Behr surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #8,659 | #8,659 | 0.0% |
| Count | 3,795 | 3,795 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.29 | 1.29 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Behr bearers went from 3,795 to 3,795 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #8,659 to #8,659.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Behr
FAQ
Behr surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Behr?
The surname Behr holds position #8,659 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 4,422 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.29 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Behr surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Behr, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and Two or More Races (1.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.