BERNHARD Origin of surname
BERNHARD
Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. The German name Bernhard combines the German Baer for "bear", and Hard meaning "hardy/strong/brave". As a Jewish surname Bernhard is not only associated with Baer, the German for "bear", but also with Baruch, the biblical Hebrew for "blessed".
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Bernhard include the Russian physician and author Abraham (Ivan) Bernhard (1762-1832), the German economist, politician and journalist George Bernhard (1857-1944), a member of the German Reichstag from 1918 to 1930, and the 20th century Romanian-born Israeli artist Ton Bernhard.
Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. The German name Bernhard combines the German Baer for "bear", and Hard meaning "hardy/strong/brave". As a Jewish surname Bernhard is not only associated with Baer, the German for "bear", but also with Baruch, the biblical Hebrew for "blessed".
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Bernhard include the Russian physician and author Abraham (Ivan) Bernhard (1762-1832), the German economist, politician and journalist George Bernhard (1857-1944), a member of the German Reichstag from 1918 to 1930, and the 20th century Romanian-born Israeli artist Ton Bernhard.