Surname Baehr - Meaning and Origin

Baehr: What does the surname Baehr mean?

The last name Baehr is an ethnic German surname of uncertain derivation. In some cases, it may be a shortening of the last name Bähring, which originated as a habitational name from a place with the same name located in the Oldenburg region of Germany. On a more general level, it may come from the Middle High German word “Baer,” meaning “bear”, ultimately deriving from the Latin “ursus”. As a result, the last name Baehr could have originally been an occupational name for a person who worked with bears or a nickname for someone with characteristics associated with a bear, such as strength or boisterousness. Alternatively, Baehr may have first been used as a Custance name or reflect the personal qualities of an ancestor, or have derivation from another regional name.

In the United States, the Baehr surname is most often of German descent and is most prevalent in Wisconsin and the majority of Midwestern states. In the 1880 census, the surname was most commonly found amongst the residents of Wisconsin, with 26 recorded occurrences, followed by Indiana with 19, and Missouri with 17 occurrences. As of the latest available census data, there are over five thousand Baehrs located in the United States alone. In Germany, the Baehr surname is still widely dispersed in the northern regions of the country, particularly in Berlin, Dresden, Hannover, and Hamburg.

Overall, the etymology of the Baehr surname is still somewhat a mystery. Although it could be a shortening of the last name Bähring, or possibly derived from the Latin word “ursus” for bear, the exact origin of the surname is still unknown. However, what is clear is that it is a well-established German surname, firmly rooted in both Germany and the United States.

Baehr: Where does the name Baehr come from?

The last name Baehr is most commonly found in Germany and Austria today, where it is spelled Bähr, and Switzerland, where it is spelled Bähre. It is also known to be popular in parts of the Netherlands, Poland, and the Czech Republic. The surname is believed to have originated in Germany and Austria, based on records from the 13th century, but it is not known exactly when the family migrated to other countries.

In Germany and Austria today, Bähr and Bähre are often found in the southern regions, such as Bavaria, Hesse, Saxony, and Thuringia. In the Czech Republic, the surname is mostly found in Bohemia and along the German border. In Poland, it is mainly found in Silesia and the German-speaking parts. Netherlands, it is mainly found in the provinces of Limburg, Groningen, and Friesland.

The name Baehr is of Germanic origin and is derived from the Middle High German word bahər, which means "farmer." The earliest recorded instances of the family are found in southern Germany and Austria, where it was used to denote people from rural areas or small towns. Records from the Middle Ages often found the family employed in farming or other agricultural work.

Variations of the surname Baehr

Baehr is a German surname, originating from the Middle High German word “bahar,” meaning "bear." Variants of the spelling include Bähr, Baer, Bahr, Bair, and Baire.

The surname is more common in German-speaking countries, including Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. In North America, it is commonly seen with a more Anglicized spelling, such as Bair, Bahr, or Baer.

Surnames that are derived from Baehr include Behr, Bährmann, or Bahrmann in Germany, Öhr, Öhrer in Austria, and Beer in Switzerland. Other possible related surnames include Baumbach, Berndt, Bischoff, Eckel, Fabel, or Lehrmann.

Baehr family members may also be identified by their prefix, or title, which is often found in Germanic countries. These titles included Bauer, which means “farmer,” Huber, or “landowner,” Schmied, or “blacksmith,” or Schulze, or “vigilant.”

The Baehr surname is also found in other countries, including France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Norway. Variations of the name in these countries may include Bahr, Baehr, Baur, Baurr, Bayer, Bahre, Beer, Berer, Behre, Behrt, Berr, Boehr, Boyer, Böhme, and Bohr.

In India, the surname “Baehr” can be found mainly amongst the Parsi community. Variations of this name in this community include Bhal, Baheer, Behre, and Bheer.

Famous people with the name Baehr

• Paula Baehr, German actress
• Lothar Baehr, German sociologist and theologian
• Alfred Baehr, Austrian playwright and director
• Johann Baehr, Prussian Army lieutenant general
• Louis Baehr, German-born American composer
• Arnold Baehr, German politician
• Roger Baehr, Swiss angiosperm morphologist, taxonomist, and evolutionary biologist
• Otto Baehr, German-American physicist and author
• Karl Baehr, German painter
• Hyman Baehr, Polish-born American film producer

Other surnames

BaehreBaehrenBaehrendBaehrensBaehringBaehrs