History of your Surname
Get access to Bergen family records.Start a free trial

Bergen Family History

Bergen Name Meaning

German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): habitational name from any of various places called Bergen. Dutch and Flemish: topographic name for someone who lived on or by a hill (see Berg ) or a habitational name from any of various places so named (see Van Bergen ). Swedish (mainly Bergén): ornamental or habitational name formed with the (placename) element berg ‘mountain hill’ + the adjectival suffix -en/-én a derivative of Latin -enius ‘relating to’.

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


Similar surnames: Berger, Berge, Berges, Bergan, Bergner, Buren, Bogen, Berven, Berner

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Bergen family from?

You can see how Bergen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bergen family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bergen families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 71 Bergen families living in Manitoba. This was about 43% of all the recorded Bergen's in Canada. Manitoba had the highest population of Bergen families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bergen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Bergen ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Daughter were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Bergen. 74% of Bergen men worked as a Farmer and 58% of Bergen women worked as a Daughter. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bergen were Farmers Son and Housekeeper. .

View Census Data for Bergen | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    74%
  • Laborer
    11%
  • Labourer
    7%
  • Farmers Son
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Daughter
    58%
  • Housekeeper
    43%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Bergen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 56,000 census records available for the last name Bergen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bergen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Bergen

Passenger Lists

There are 12,000 immigration records available for the last name Bergen. 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 Bergen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 14,000 military records available for the last name Bergen. For the veterans among your Bergen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bergen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bergen family history

Discover More

What is the average Bergen lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Bergen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Bergen in 1940 was 41, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bergen

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Bergen family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Bergen last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial