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Bernards Family History

Bernards Surname Meaning

Dutch and North German: patronymic from the personal name Bernard.

Latvian: from the personal name Bernards, Latvian form of Bernard.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Bernards family from?

You can see how Bernards families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bernards family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bernards families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 6 Bernards families living in Ontario. This was about 75% of all the recorded Bernards's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Bernards families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bernards surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Bernards ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and New Worker were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Bernards. 20% of Bernards men worked as a Farmer and 34% of Bernards women worked as a New Worker. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bernards were Painter and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Bernards | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    20%
  • Laborer
    16%
  • Proprietor
    8%
  • Painter
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • New Worker
    34%
  • Machine Operator
    23%
  • Clerk
    23%
  • Housekeeper
    23%

What Bernards family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Bernards. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bernards census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Bernards

Passenger Lists

There are 528 immigration records available for the last name Bernards. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Bernards immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 401 military records available for the last name Bernards. For the veterans among your Bernards ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bernards military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bernards family history

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What is the average Bernards lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Bernards life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1979, and highest in 1995. The average life expectancy for Bernards in 1963 was 71, and 82 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bernards

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bernards ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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