Explore the Family Name Bern
The meaning of Bern
1. German and Scandinavian: from a short form of an ancient Germanic personal name formed with ber(n) ‘bear’, e.g. Bernhard. 2. South German: habitational name from Bern, Switzerland.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bern in the United States?
The surname Bern, according to data derived from the Decennial U.S. Census, showed a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. The rank of this surname fell from 29,181 in 2000 to 31,285 in 2010, reflecting a 7.21% drop. Similarly, the count of individuals with the Bern surname also decreased from 765 to 741 during this decade, marking a decline of 3.14%. Consequently, the proportion per 100,000 people of this surname also experienced a decrease of 10.71% during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #29,181 | #31,285 | -7.21% |
| Count | 765 | 741 | -3.14% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.28 | 0.25 | -10.71% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bern
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that there were shifts in the ethnic identity associated with the surname Bern between 2000 and 2010. There was an increase seen in those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, Two or more races, Hispanic, and Black, with the most significant change being an 80% increase in those identifying as Black. However, the proportion of those identifying as White and American Indian and Alaskan Native decreased by 3.99% and 6.25% respectively. While the majority of individuals with the Bern surname identified as White in both years, the percentage did decline over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 91.37% | 87.72% | -3.99% |
| Hispanic | 2.61% | 4.32% | 65.52% |
| Two or More Races | 2.48% | 3.64% | 46.77% |
| Black | 1.05% | 1.89% | 80% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.44% | 1.35% | -6.25% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.05% | 1.08% | 2.86% |