NameCensus.

UK surname

Berger

An occupational surname of German and French origin referring to a shepherd or someone who tended sheep.

In the 1881 census there were 172 people recorded with the Berger surname, ranking it #14,163 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,097, ranked #5,350, up from #14,163 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Mary Whitechapel and Paddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney and Bury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Berger is 1,102 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 537.8%.

1881 census count

172

Ranked #14,163

Modern count

1,097

2016, ranked #5,350

Peak year

2014

1,102 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Berger had 172 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,163 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,097 in 2016, ranked #5,350.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 515 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Berger surname distribution map

The map shows where the Berger surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Berger surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Berger over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 91 #18,187
1861 historical 167 #13,956
1881 historical 172 #14,163
1891 historical 266 #12,169
1901 historical 395 #9,562
1911 historical 515 #7,658
1997 modern 886 #6,035
1998 modern 912 #6,099
1999 modern 906 #6,169
2000 modern 905 #6,154
2001 modern 862 #6,264
2002 modern 915 #6,129
2003 modern 902 #6,074
2004 modern 889 #6,159
2005 modern 895 #6,053
2006 modern 902 #6,031
2007 modern 927 #5,951
2008 modern 964 #5,812
2009 modern 1,013 #5,705
2010 modern 1,060 #5,600
2011 modern 1,056 #5,559
2012 modern 1,040 #5,549
2013 modern 1,079 #5,469
2014 modern 1,102 #5,393
2015 modern 1,085 #5,407
2016 modern 1,097 #5,350

Geography

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Where Bergers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Mary Whitechapel, Paddington and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hackney and Bury. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
3 Paddington London (West Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hackney 001 Hackney
2 Hackney 029 Hackney
3 Bury 019 Bury
4 Hackney 006 Hackney
5 Hackney 004 Hackney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Berger

These lists show first names that appear often with the Berger surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Berger

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Berger, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Berger surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Berger household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Berger is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Berger is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Berger falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Berger is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Berger, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Berger

The surname "Berger" originated in Germany and Switzerland, and it has been around since the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the German word "Berg," which means "mountain" or "hill," and the suffix "-er," which indicates an occupation or a person's place of origin. Therefore, "Berger" likely referred to someone who lived on or near a mountain or hill, or someone whose occupation was related to mountains or hills, such as a shepherd or a miner.

The earliest recorded examples of the name can be found in medieval German documents and records. For instance, the name "Berger" appears in the Codex Diplomaticus Quedlinburgensis, a collection of charters and documents from the Quedlinburg Abbey in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, dating back to the 10th century.

In Switzerland, the name "Berger" can be traced back to the 13th century. One notable Swiss Berger was Johannes Berger, a prominent cleric and theologian who lived in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. He served as the Bishop of Constance from 1418 to 1433.

In England, the name "Berger" is believed to have arrived with German and Swiss immigrants in the 16th and 17th centuries. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in England is that of Hans Berger, a German-born musician and composer who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He served as a lutenist and composer at the court of King James I.

Another famous person with the surname "Berger" was the German painter and printmaker Hans Sebald Beham (1500-1550), who was also known as Hans Sebald Berger. He was a prominent figure in the German Renaissance and is known for his intricate engravings and woodcuts.

In the 19th century, the German philosopher and psychologist Hans Berger (1873-1941) made significant contributions to the field of neuroscience. He is best known for his discovery of the electrical activity of the human brain, which he called the "Berger rhythm" or the "alpha wave."

The surname "Berger" has also been associated with various place names throughout Europe, such as Bergerhuizen in the Netherlands, Bergershausen in Germany, and Bergerac in France. These place names often reflect the presence of mountains or hills in the area, further reinforcing the connection between the name "Berger" and its geographical origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Berger families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Berger surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 76 Bergers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.43x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 76 4.43x
Surrey 19 2.27x
Lancashire 16 0.79x
Yorkshire 15 0.88x
Kent 10 1.71x
Lanarkshire 6 1.08x
Durham 5 0.98x
Argyllshire 4 8.37x
Channel Islands 4 7.86x
Suffolk 4 1.91x
Buckinghamshire 3 2.89x
Devon 3 0.84x
Essex 3 0.89x
Cheshire 2 0.53x
Midlothian 2 0.87x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.63x
Cornwall 1 0.51x
Merionethshire 1 3.18x
Somerset 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 11 Bergers recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.53x.

Place Total Index
Kensington London 11 11.53x
St Marylebone London 11 12.00x
Penge 10 91.16x
Camberwell 8 7.30x
Liverpool 8 6.47x
Mile End New Town London 7 206.49x
Paddington London 7 11.09x
St George Hanover Square 7 23.15x
Barony 6 4.27x
Tonge With Haulgh 6 151.13x
Bishop Auckland 5 72.99x
Hackney London 5 5.20x
Leeds 5 5.21x
Middlesbrough 5 22.57x
Haverhill 4 215.05x
Kilmallie 4 162.60x
Linthorpe 4 39.41x
Charlton 3 77.12x
Cobham 3 555.56x
Finchley 3 45.59x
Great Marlow 3 107.14x
Grouville 3 211.27x
St Anne Soho London 3 30.61x
Chelsea London 2 3.87x
Edinburgh St Stephens 2 44.15x
Hampstead London 2 7.48x
Shoreditch London 2 2.69x
St George Bloomsbury 2 20.30x
St Giles In Fields London 2 23.75x
Tottenham 2 7.32x
Whitechapel London 2 11.82x
Woodford 2 52.08x
Altrincham 1 15.11x
Bermondsey 1 1.96x
Bexley 1 19.31x
Birkenhead 1 3.31x
Cheetham 1 6.58x
Exeter St David 1 32.79x
Exeter St Leonard 1 102.04x
Falmouth 1 14.53x
Fulham London 1 4.02x
Hammersmith London 1 2.36x
Islington London 1 0.60x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 73.53x
Llangelynin 1 149.25x
Margate St John Baptist 1 9.33x
Norwood 1 25.45x
Paignton 1 36.76x
Peterhead 1 11.89x
Plumstead 1 5.12x
Ramsgate 1 10.46x
St Andrew Holborn 1 17.18x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 13.46x
St Bartholomew Great 1 64.10x
St Helier 1 6.04x
St Luke London 1 3.63x
Toxteth Park 1 1.45x
Walcot 1 6.79x
West Ham 1 1.34x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Berger surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Louisa 7
Sarah 6
Mary 5
Esther 3
Julia 3
Anna 2
Annie 2
Eliza 2
Marie 2
Rebecca 2
Anthia 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Cathrine 1
Cecelia 1
Cerelia 1
Charlotte 1
Dora 1
Eleanor 1
Elizabeth 1
Eloisa 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Estella 1
Eva 1
Eve 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Frederike 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Hilda 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
Jeanette 1
Jennie 1
Josephine 1
Kitty 1
Leah 1
Leopoldina 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Margt.H. 1
Matilda 1
Melaine 1
Minnie 1
Nethe 1
Nettie 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Berger surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Charles 6
Edward 4
Henry 3
John 3
Joseph 3
Abraham 2
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
David 2
Frank 2
George 2
Harry 2
Jacob 2
Lewis 2
Otto 2
Randolph 2
Samuel 2
Aimable 1
Antoine 1
Barnet 1
Capel 1
Chas 1
Christian 1
Christopher 1
Edgar 1
Eernest 1
Emanuel 1
Flilarion 1
Francesco 1
Francis 1
Frantz 1
Fredc.T. 1
Freiderich 1
Gustav 1
Heinrik 1
Herman 1
Hubert 1
Israel 1
Julius 1
Leo 1
Lucy 1
Marks 1
Maurice 1
Melchior 1
Myer 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Theodore 1

FAQ

Berger surname: questions and answers

How common was the Berger surname in 1881?

In 1881, 172 people were recorded with the Berger surname. That placed it at #14,163 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Berger surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,097 in 2016. That gives Berger a modern rank of #5,350.

What does the Berger surname mean?

An occupational surname of German and French origin referring to a shepherd or someone who tended sheep.

What does the Berger map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Berger bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.