NameCensus.

UK surname

Berner

One who came from the city of Bern, Switzerland, or from the canton of Bern.

In the 1881 census there were 70 people recorded with the Berner surname, ranking it #23,670 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 166, ranked #22,140, up from #23,670 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, Havering and Brentwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Berner is 183 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 137.1%.

1881 census count

70

Ranked #23,670

Modern count

166

2016, ranked #22,140

Peak year

2010

183 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Berner had 70 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,670 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 166 in 2016, ranked #22,140.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 89 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Berner surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Berner surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Berner 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 31 #27,734
1861 historical 85 #22,922
1881 historical 70 #23,670
1891 historical 76 #27,290
1901 historical 80 #25,251
1911 historical 89 #23,922
1997 modern 162 #20,107
1998 modern 176 #19,584
1999 modern 176 #19,722
2000 modern 181 #19,360
2001 modern 168 #19,986
2002 modern 169 #20,307
2003 modern 155 #21,217
2004 modern 154 #21,432
2005 modern 156 #21,221
2006 modern 153 #21,643
2007 modern 158 #21,464
2008 modern 165 #21,056
2009 modern 170 #21,095
2010 modern 183 #20,586
2011 modern 174 #21,096
2012 modern 166 #21,683
2013 modern 162 #22,433
2014 modern 164 #22,445
2015 modern 163 #22,407
2016 modern 166 #22,140

Geography

Back to top

Where Berners 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 Doncaster, Havering, Brentwood, Chelmsford and Winchester. 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 Doncaster 039 Doncaster
2 Havering 024 Havering
3 Brentwood 002 Brentwood
4 Chelmsford 005 Chelmsford
5 Winchester 008 Winchester

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Berner

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Berner

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Berner, 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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Berner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Berner household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Berner is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Berner 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

Berner 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 Berner 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Berner

The surname Berner originates from the German-speaking regions of Switzerland and southern Germany. It is derived from the Old High German word "bern," meaning "bear," and was likely initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone with bear-like characteristics or associations.

The name first appeared in historical records in the 12th century, with a mention of a family named Berner residing in the city of Bern, Switzerland. This city's name is also derived from the word "bern," indicating a possible connection between the surname and the place.

In the 13th century, the Berner family played a significant role in the Swiss struggle for independence against the Habsburgs. Ulrich Berner, born around 1240, was a prominent figure in this conflict and is mentioned in various chronicles of the time.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the surname Berner became more widespread across southern Germany and Switzerland. Several notable individuals with this surname emerged, including Johannes Berner, a scholar and theologian from Nuremberg, who lived from 1389 to 1456.

In the 16th century, the name Berner appeared in various records and manuscripts, such as the Zurich Family Book, which documented families in the city of Zurich, Switzerland. One notable entry was for the Berner family of goldsmiths, who were influential in the city's guild system.

The 17th century saw the rise of Hans Berner, a Swiss politician and diplomat who served as the mayor of Bern from 1653 to 1655. His contributions to the city's governance and foreign relations were significant during this period.

In the 18th century, Johann Balthasar Berner, born in 1745 in Basel, Switzerland, gained recognition as a renowned painter and engraver. His works, depicting landscapes and historical scenes, were highly regarded in his time.

The 19th century brought forth Friedrich Wilhelm Berner, a German botanist and naturalist, born in 1780 in Oldenburg. He authored several significant works on the flora of Germany and made valuable contributions to the field of botany.

Throughout its history, the surname Berner has been associated with various place names and older spellings, such as Bernher, Bernar, and Bärnär, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Berner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Berner 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 28 Berners recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.10x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 28 4.10x
Surrey 10 3.01x
Hampshire 9 6.43x
Lancashire 8 0.99x
Durham 6 2.95x
Berkshire 3 5.85x
Gloucestershire 2 1.49x
Hertfordshire 2 4.25x
Essex 1 0.74x
Sussex 1 0.87x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clerkenwell London in Middlesex leads with 7 Berners recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.42x.

Place Total Index
Clerkenwell London 7 43.42x
Toxteth Park 7 25.52x
Putney 6 192.93x
Stranton 6 87.72x
Weeke 6 1428.57x
Bethnal Green London 4 13.49x
Mile End Old Town London 4 27.53x
Tottenham 4 36.80x
Westminster St John 4 48.13x
Battersea 3 11.94x
Reading St Mary 3 73.17x
St John Winchester 3 1034.48x
Cheltenham 2 19.36x
St Albans St Peter 2 125.79x
Whitechapel London 2 29.72x
Brighton 1 4.31x
Camberwell 1 2.29x
Harrow 1 96.15x
Salford 1 4.20x
Shoreditch London 1 3.38x
Walthamstow 1 20.62x
Westminster St James 1 14.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emily 3
Elizabeth 2
Hannah 2
Margaret 2
Agnes 1
Alexandrine 1
Alice 1
Alida 1
Annie 1
Bertha 1
Blanch 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Davida 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Ethel 1
Infant 1
Magdaline 1
Maggie 1
Martha 1
Mary 1
Maud 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Suzanne 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 3
Earnest 2
Fredrick 2
George 2
John 2
Robert 2
William 2
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Benjm. 1
Charles 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Freddy 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Gilbert 1
Ingvard 1
Iwan 1
Jno. 1
Joachim 1
Max 1
Philip 1
Rolf 1
Sidney 1
Sven 1
Valentine 1
Wilhelm 1
Wm. 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 Berner households.

FAQ

Berner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Berner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 70 people were recorded with the Berner surname. That placed it at #23,670 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Berner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 166 in 2016. That gives Berner a modern rank of #22,140.

What does the Berner surname mean?

One who came from the city of Bern, Switzerland, or from the canton of Bern.

What does the Berner map show?

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