Berard
A surname of old Germanic origin, probably meaning “strong as a bear” or “bear-hard.”
The #9,118 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 86,194 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname goes back to an old Germanic personal name written in early forms as Berahard or Berhard. The first element is commonly taken as ber, “bear,” and the second as hard, “brave, hardy, strong,” so the name would have had the sense of “bear-strong” or “bold as a bear.” In French and Norman records it appears in several spellings, including Berard, Berart, and related forms.
History
The name is recorded in Norman and English records from the 12th century, and the excerpts show it appearing in Normandy and in English counties such as Suffolk, Bedfordshire, and Norfolk. French usage also preserved related forms such as Béraud and Bérault, while English spellings varied over time. Modern Berard is especially familiar in French-speaking and English-speaking contexts, often as a surname descended from a medieval personal name.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
A French onomastic tradition connects the name with ber, “bear,” making it one of several medieval names built from animal strength imagery.
From the historical record
“Hen. n. Berard de Wattlesfeld, co. Suff.,X273. A. Robert Berard, co. Bedf , ibid. A^nes Barat, co. Camb., ibid.”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (alternate scan)