NameCensus.

UK surname

Bernardi

An Italian surname referring to a bold or brave person, derived from the Germanic name Bernhard.

In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Bernardi surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 194, ranked #19,976, up from #32,765 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland, Inverness Crown and Haugh and Bexley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bernardi is 195 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2671.4%.

1881 census count

7

Ranked #32,765

Modern count

194

2016, ranked #19,976

Peak year

2014

195 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bernardi had 7 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 194 in 2016, ranked #19,976.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 45 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Bernardi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bernardi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bernardi 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 1 #33,412
1861 historical 6 #33,230
1881 historical 7 #32,765
1891 historical 14 #33,037
1901 historical 40 #29,678
1911 historical 45 #28,332
1997 modern 121 #24,019
1998 modern 124 #24,316
1999 modern 136 #23,186
2000 modern 137 #23,048
2001 modern 127 #23,781
2002 modern 129 #24,021
2003 modern 139 #22,734
2004 modern 140 #22,793
2005 modern 140 #22,774
2006 modern 132 #23,834
2007 modern 126 #24,860
2008 modern 136 #24,004
2009 modern 146 #23,352
2010 modern 159 #22,577
2011 modern 167 #21,642
2012 modern 178 #20,758
2013 modern 193 #19,997
2014 modern 195 #20,036
2015 modern 192 #20,138
2016 modern 194 #19,976

Geography

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Where Bernardis are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland, Inverness Crown and Haugh, Bexley and Ross and Cromarty South West. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 021 Sunderland
2 Inverness Crown and Haugh Highland
3 Bexley 023 Bexley
4 Ross and Cromarty South West Highland
5 Sunderland 023 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bernardi

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bernardi

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bernardi, 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 Bernardi surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Bernardi 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, Bernardi 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

Bernardi 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

Bernardi falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bernardi 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 Bernardi, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bernardi

The surname Bernardi originated in Italy, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the late medieval period. It is derived from the personal name Bernardo, which itself has Germanic roots, coming from the elements "bern" meaning "bear" and "hard" meaning "hardy" or "brave." The name Bernardi is the patronymic form, indicating "son of Bernardo."

In medieval Italy, surnames were often derived from personal names, occupations, or places of origin. The Bernardi name was particularly prevalent in the regions of Tuscany and Lombardy, where it was associated with several noble families and prominent individuals throughout history.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Bernardi name can be found in the Codice Diplomatico Longobardo, a collection of historical documents from the Lombard period in Italy, dating back to the 8th century. This suggests that the name had already established itself in certain regions of Italy by that time.

During the Renaissance period, several notable figures bore the Bernardi surname. Among them was the Italian humanist and scholar Francesco Bernardi, who lived from 1460 to 1535 and was known for his contributions to classical literature and philosophy. Another prominent individual was the artist Giovanni Bernardi, who was active in the late 15th and early 16th centuries and is remembered for his paintings and frescoes adorning churches in Florence and other Tuscan cities.

In the 17th century, the Bernardi family produced several influential figures in the Italian states, including the diplomat and historian Girolamo Bernardi (1605-1674) and the military commander Gian Battista Bernardi (1620-1688), who served under the Duchy of Savoy.

Moving into the 18th century, the name Bernardi gained further prominence with the birth of the Italian playwright and librettist Pietro Bernardi (1709-1769), whose works were performed in major opera houses across Europe.

Another noteworthy individual was the Italian botanist and naturalist Giuseppe Antonio Bernardi (1756-1836), who made significant contributions to the study of plant life and is remembered for his extensive herbarium collection.

Throughout its long history, the Bernardi surname has been associated with various places and regions within Italy, including the towns of Bernardo in Tuscany and Bernardi in Lombardy, both of which likely derived their names from the same linguistic roots as the surname itself.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bernardi families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bernardi 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. Yorkshire leads with 4 Bernardis recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.93x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 4 5.93x
Leicestershire 1 13.25x
Middlesex 1 1.47x
Warwickshire 1 5.82x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Scarborough in Yorkshire leads with 3 Bernardis recorded in 1881 and an index of 491.80x.

Place Total Index
Scarborough 3 491.80x
Birmingham 1 17.48x
Falsgrave 1 1000.00x
Leicester St Margaret 1 54.35x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 344.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ellen 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Giovanni 2
John 1
Rodrego 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Bernardi households.

FAQ

Bernardi surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bernardi surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Bernardi surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bernardi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 194 in 2016. That gives Bernardi a modern rank of #19,976.

What does the Bernardi surname mean?

An Italian surname referring to a bold or brave person, derived from the Germanic name Bernhard.

What does the Bernardi map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bernardi 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.