Find out how popular the last name Berec is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Berec.

Berec, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Berec surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Berec in America

Berec is the 154907th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Berec surname appeared 105 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Berec.

The history of the last name Berec

The surname Berec has its origins in the Slavic region of Eastern Europe, specifically in the areas that now comprise modern-day Poland and parts of western Ukraine. The name is believed to have emerged during the late medieval period, around the 14th or 15th century.

One theory suggests that Berec is derived from the Slavic root word "berek," which refers to a thicket or a small grove of trees. This connection implies that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or worked in such a wooded area.

Another possible origin traces the name back to the Old Polish word "bereka," meaning a type of fur or pelt. In this context, the surname Berec could have been initially associated with individuals involved in the fur trade or those who worked as furriers.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Berec can be found in various historical documents from the region, including church records and land registries dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. One notable example is Jan Berec, a landowner mentioned in a 1487 deed from the town of Krakow, Poland.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in the records of the Polish nobility, with a certain Marcin Berec being granted a coat of arms by King Sigismund III Vasa in 1621. This suggests that some families bearing the Berec surname had achieved a degree of social standing and recognition during that period.

Over the centuries, several individuals with the surname Berec have left their mark in various fields. One such figure was Jakub Berec (1598-1667), a Polish theologian and professor at the University of Krakow, known for his contributions to the study of canon law.

Another notable bearer of the name was Franciszek Berec (1718-1792), a Polish architect and sculptor who designed several churches and public buildings in the city of Lviv, which was then part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

In the 19th century, the Berec surname was carried by Teodor Berec (1823-1887), a Polish writer and poet who played a significant role in the literary and cultural movements of his time.

The name Berec also found its way into Russian history, with Ivan Berec (1856-1924) being a prominent industrialist and philanthropist who established several factories and supported educational institutions in the city of Moscow.

It is worth noting that various spelling variations of the surname, such as Berek, Berezc, and Berecz, have also been documented throughout history, reflecting the linguistic and cultural diversity of the regions where the name has been present.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Berec

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Berec.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Berec was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Berec was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Berec, please contact us.

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