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

Bernath, 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 Bernath surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bernath in America

Bernath is the 21811th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bernath surname appeared 1,192 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 Bernath.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bernath to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Bernath

The surname Bernath is of Hungarian origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period in the region now known as Hungary. It is derived from the Hungarian word "bernát," which itself comes from the Germanic name "Bernhard," meaning "brave as a bear."

Historically, the Bernath name was found in various regions of the Kingdom of Hungary, including present-day western Hungary, eastern Austria, and parts of Slovakia. The earliest known record of the surname dates back to the 13th century, appearing in local parish records and land registries.

During the 15th century, a notable figure named Bernáth János (c. 1420-1472) gained recognition as a prominent Hungarian nobleman and military commander. He played a crucial role in defending the kingdom against Ottoman invasions and was granted lands for his service to the crown.

In the 16th century, the Bernath family established itself in the town of Nagyszombat (now Trnava, Slovakia), where they were involved in the local governance and trade activities. One prominent member, István Bernáth (1540-1612), served as the town's mayor and was respected for his leadership during a period of religious and political turmoil.

The 17th century saw the Bernath name spread further across the Hungarian territories, with several notable individuals emerging. György Bernáth (1620-1689) was a renowned scholar and educator who contributed significantly to the development of the Hungarian education system. He established several schools and authored influential works on pedagogy and theology.

As the 19th century dawned, the Bernath family continued to leave its mark on Hungarian society. János Bernáth (1785-1849) was a celebrated poet and writer whose works celebrated the beauty of the Hungarian language and culture. His poems and essays were widely read and appreciated during the era of Hungarian national awakening.

Another prominent figure, Zsuzsanna Bernáth (1815-1892), was a pioneering feminist and advocate for women's rights. She fought tirelessly for equal educational opportunities for women and played a vital role in establishing several girls' schools and institutions in the region.

Throughout its history, the Bernath surname has been associated with various professions, including nobility, military service, education, literature, and civic leadership. While the name's origins can be traced back to medieval Hungary, its legacy has extended far beyond its geographical boundaries, leaving an indelible mark on Hungarian culture and society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bernath

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

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 Bernath 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Bernath has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Bernath was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!