Bergen
A habitational surname referring to people from any of several places named Bergen, meaning "mountains" or "hills."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 7,061 Americans carry the last name Bergen. That puts it at #5,711 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 48,542 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bergen 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
7.1K
1 in 48,542
Census rank
#5,711
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
6.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 6,074 bearers of the surname Bergen in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 5711th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bergen, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Black (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bergen
The surname Bergen originates from the Netherlands and has been in use since the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Dutch word "berg," meaning "hill" or "mountain," and likely referred to someone who lived near or came from a hilly or mountainous area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bergen can be found in the 14th century Dutch records, where it was spelled as "van Bergen" or "van den Bergen." This suggests that the name was initially used as a locative surname, indicating someone from a particular place called Bergen or a similar name.
The name Bergen is also associated with the city of Bergen in Norway, which was an important trading center during the Middle Ages. It is possible that some individuals with this surname may have originated from or had connections to this city.
In the 15th century, a notable figure named Anthonius van Bergen (c. 1420-1475) was a Dutch physician and scholar who wrote several works on medicine and philosophy. He is considered one of the earliest Dutch humanists.
Another prominent individual with the surname Bergen was Dirck van Bergen (c. 1593-1667), a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his still-life and genre paintings. His works are currently housed in various museums across Europe.
In the 19th century, a Norwegian author named Johan Sebastian Cammermeyer Welhaven (1807-1873) was born with the original surname Bergen. He was a prominent figure in the Norwegian romantic nationalist movement and is considered one of Norway's greatest lyric poets.
The surname Bergen has also been associated with various place names, such as Bergen op Zoom in the Netherlands and Bergen County in New Jersey, USA. These places may have contributed to the spread and usage of the surname in different regions.
Another noteworthy individual with the surname Bergen was the American actress Candice Bergen (born 1946), known for her roles in films such as "The Sand Pebbles" and the TV series "Murphy Brown."
While the surname Bergen has Dutch origins, it has been adopted and used by individuals across various countries and cultures over the centuries, with different spellings and variations emerging.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bergen
Among Census respondents with the surname Bergen, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Black (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Bergen 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 Bergen surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.8%
- Hispanic or Latino2.2%
- Black or African American1.7%
- Two or more races1.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bergen 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 | #5,711 | #5,711 | 0.0% |
| Count | 6,074 | 6,074 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 2.06 | 2.06 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Bergen bearers went from 6,074 to 6,074 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #5,711 to #5,711.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bergen
FAQ
Bergen surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bergen?
The surname Bergen holds position #5,711 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 7,061 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 2.06 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bergen surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bergen, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Black (1.7%). 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.