2000
#21,244
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,151
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.43
Rare Last name
Bernath
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "near the bear".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,354 Americans carry the last name Bernath. That puts it at #22,347 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.40 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 253,142 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bernath surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
1.4K
1 in 253,142
Census rank
#22,347
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,181 bearers of the surname Bernath in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.40 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 22347th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bernath, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.4%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bernath
Among Census respondents with the surname Bernath, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.4%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Bernath bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Bernath surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.6% · 1,105
- Hispanic or Latino2.4% · 28
- Two or more races2.1% · 25
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.4% · 16
- Black or African American0.6% · 7
Timeline
Historical Census data for Bernath
Bernath appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#21,811
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,192
+41 bearers (+3.6%)
Per 100,000 0.40
Rank movement Down 567 places
2020
#22,347
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,181
-11 bearers (-0.9%)
Per 100,000 0.40
Rank movement Down 536 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #21,244 | 1,151 | 0.43 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #21,811 | 1,192 | 0.40 | +41 bearers (+3.6%) | Down 567 places |
| 2020 | #22,347 | 1,181 | 0.40 | -11 bearers (-0.9%) | Down 536 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Bernath surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #21,811 | #22,347 | -2.5% |
| Count | 1,192 | 1,181 | -0.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.40 | 0.40 | -1.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Bernath bearers went from 1,192 to 1,181 (-0.9% change). The surname moved down 536 positions in the national ranking, going from #21,811 to #22,347.
FAQ
Bernath surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Bernath?
Name Census estimates that about 1,354 living Americans carry the surname Bernath. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 253,142 residents.
How common is Bernath?
Bernath ranks #22,347 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.40 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,181 people with the surname Bernath. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (1,354), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.4 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.40 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Bernath.
Has Bernath become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Bernath went from 1,192 recorded bearers to 1,181. That is a decrease of 11 (-0.9%). In the national ranking it fell from #21,811 to #22,347.
What does the Census say about the background of Bernath?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bernath, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.4%) and Two or More Races (2.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Bernath in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.6% (1,105 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Bernath appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.6%), Hispanic (2.4%), Two or More Races (2.1%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Bernath (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Bernath mean?
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "near the bear". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Bernath (0.40 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Bernath?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.