Surname Bärlehner - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Bärlehner: What does the surname Bärlehner mean?
The German surname Bärlehner is derived from the pre-existing medieval personal name Beral. This name is thought to have come from the Old High German word “bero” meaning “bear”. The personal name Beral was likely chosen because of its positive connotations, as to many pre-modern European tribes the bear symbolised strength, bravery, good luck and a successful hunt.
Although Bärlehner has a long history, and likely is the name of many pre-medieval clans in Germanic-speaking areas, German speakers first began to use it as a surname in the 15th century. Bärlehner began to spread to more distant parts of the German speaking world in the 1500s.
Today Bärlehner is considered to be a fairly typical German surname, as it is still seen quite frequently on German documents and papers of various sorts. Many people with the Bärlehner family name can still trace their family roots to their original homeland in Germany.
The surname Bärlehner can be roughly translated as “The Bearer (or Holder) of Bears”, implying the original, ancient, bear symbolism associated with the personal name. Whether their ancestor actually killed a bear or not, descendants of the Bärlehner family likely have a strong connection to the old Germanic tribes, who gave them their family name.
Order DNA origin analysisBärlehner: Where does the name Bärlehner come from?
The last name Bärlehner is common primarily in German-speaking regions, especially in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The name is most strongly concentrated in the northeastern corner of Bavaria, a state in southeastern Germany. It is especially prevalent in the cities and towns of Schwandorf, Weiden in der Oberpfalz, Tirschenreuth and Hof.
The name likely has its roots in Bavarian dialect, with “Bär” relating to the the German word for bear, "Bär." "Lehner" is a regional word for the smallholder tenant with freedom of action, so the name means "Bear landlord."
In the United States, the largest population of Bärlehners is in Arizona, largely around the cities of Tucson and Phoenix. The last name is also present in other states, such as Illinois, Indiana, California, and Florida.
In Canada, the greatest concentration of the last name Bärlehner is in Alberta, specifically around the cities of Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer. It is also present in the other provinces.
Overall, the last name Bärlehner is predominantly found in German-speaking or German-influenced areas. It is especially prevalent in Germany or areas where the German language or culture is strong, but it also has a large presence in countries like the United States and Canada.
Variations of the surname Bärlehner
The surname Bärlehner is a variation of the name Bährlehner, Bärlehner, Bährlein, Bährle, Bährl, Bärl, Bärllement, Bärlin, Bährlin, Bährlen, Bärlen, and Bärlener. It is a German name and likely originated from the Bavarian region of Bavaria.
The surname Bärlehner comes from two German words “Bär” meaning “bear” and “lehner,” which means “field”. Therefore, the literal translation of the name is berry field. It is possible that the family may have originally come from a farm that grew wild berries. This would also explain why some of the variants include the word Bährle, which is a reference to the berry that grows in the German language.
The variants of the Bärlehner surname include Bährle, Bärl, Bärllement, Bärlin, Bährlin, Bährlen, Bäerlen, Bährlein, Bährlehner, and Bärlener. Though most of the variants and spellings follow the traditional German language, some, such as Bärllement and Bäerlen, are less common.
The surname is most commonly found in the German-speaking regions of Germany and Austria, though it has spread to other countries around the world. It is likely that with globalization and immigration, the variants of the surname Bärlehner are more likely to be seen in other countries as well.
Famous people with the name Bärlehner
- Eva Bärlehner: Eva Bärlehner is a German cyclist who won the gold medal at the 2013 European Youth Olympic Festival in the women's road race.
- Eva Bärlehner: Eva Bärlehner was awarded the bronze medal at the 2016 European Cycling Championships in the time trial.
- Eva Bärlehner: Eva Bärlehner won the silver medal in the individual pursuit at the 2019 UCI Track Cycling World Championships.
- Helmut Bärlehner: The German photographer named Helmut Bärlehner was born in 1965 and is best known for merging imagery from traditional photography with digital manipulation techniques.
- Claudia Bärlehner: Claudia Bärlehner is a professional alpine skier who has won several world cup races and competed in the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics.
- Frank Bärlehner: Frank Bärlehner was an Austrian aerial photographer who also served in the Austrian military during World War II.
- Lorenz Bärlehner: Lorenz Bärlehner is a Swiss sculptor who specializes in busts and other sculptural works, primarily portraiture.
- Johann Bärlehner: A former Austrian bobsledder, Johann Bärlehner competed in the 1932 and 1936 Winter Olympics and was considered one of the best bobsledders of the era.
- Verena Bärlehner: Verena Bärlehner is an Austrian author who has published several books about health and nutrition.
- Marion Bärlehner: The Austrian alpine skier Marion Bärlehner has won two World Cup races, and competed in the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics.