Bernhard
A German surname derived from the personal name Bernhard, composed of the elements "bear" and "hardy" or "brave."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 4,353 Americans carry the last name Bernhard. That puts it at #8,775 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.27 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 78,740 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bernhard 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 78,740
Census rank
#8,775
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.7K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,735 bearers of the surname Bernhard in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.27 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 8775th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bernhard, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bernhard
The surname Bernhard originated in Germany in the Middle Ages, deriving from the Old German name Bernhard, which is a compound of two words: "bern" meaning "bear" and "hart" meaning "hardy" or "brave." This name likely referred to someone who possessed the strength and fortitude of a bear.
The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 9th century, with mentions of individuals bearing the name in various historical records and manuscripts from the region. One notable example is a Bernhard von Anhalt, who was a count in the Holy Roman Empire during the late 10th century.
Over time, the name spread across Germany and into neighboring regions, with various regional spellings emerging, such as Bernhardt, Bernhart, and Bernhard. These variations often depended on local dialects and pronunciation patterns.
The name also appeared in several place names, such as Bernhardswald, a forest region in Bavaria, and Bernhardsthal, a town in Lower Austria. These place names likely originated from individuals with the surname Bernhard who lived or held lands in those areas.
Several notable individuals throughout history have borne the surname Bernhard, including:
1. Bernhard von Clairvaux (1090-1153), a French abbot and one of the most influential churchmen of the Middle Ages.
2. Bernhard Riemann (1826-1866), a German mathematician renowned for his contributions to analysis and geometry.
3. Bernhard von Bülow (1849-1929), a German diplomat and politician who served as Chancellor of Germany from 1900 to 1909.
4. Bernhard Rust (1883-1945), a German Nazi leader and Reich Minister of Education during the Third Reich.
5. Bernhard Grzimek (1909-1987), a German zoologist, book author, and television host known for his work in wildlife conservation.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals who have carried the surname Bernhard throughout history, highlighting its enduring presence and significance across various fields and eras.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bernhard
Among Census respondents with the surname Bernhard, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Bernhard 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 Bernhard surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.3%
- Hispanic or Latino2.6%
- Two or more races1.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0%
- Black or African American0.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bernhard 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 | #8,775 | #8,775 | 0.0% |
| Count | 3,735 | 3,735 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.27 | 1.27 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Bernhard bearers went from 3,735 to 3,735 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #8,775 to #8,775.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bernhard
FAQ
Bernhard surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bernhard?
The surname Bernhard holds position #8,775 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 4,353 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.27 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bernhard surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bernhard, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) 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.