UK surname
A habitational surname derived from a place name in France or Switzerland.
In the 1881 census there were 22 people recorded with the Bernet surname, ranking it #30,464 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 26, ranked #36,254, down from #30,464 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Mary Whitechapel, Pleasley and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bernet is 107 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.2%.
1881 census count
22
Ranked #30,464
Modern count
26
2016, ranked #36,254
Peak year
1861
107 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bernet surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bernet surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 46 | #24,985 |
| 1861 | historical | 107 | #20,008 |
| 1881 | historical | 22 | #30,464 |
| 1891 | historical | 43 | #30,933 |
| 1901 | historical | 31 | #30,616 |
| 1911 | historical | 23 | #30,923 |
| 1997 | modern | 12 | #36,785 |
| 1998 | modern | 12 | #36,790 |
| 1999 | modern | 14 | #36,595 |
| 2000 | modern | 13 | #36,635 |
| 2001 | modern | 12 | #36,612 |
| 2002 | modern | 11 | #36,780 |
| 2003 | modern | 13 | #36,620 |
| 2004 | modern | 16 | #36,439 |
| 2005 | modern | 13 | #36,833 |
| 2006 | modern | 14 | #36,801 |
| 2007 | modern | 15 | #36,793 |
| 2008 | modern | 18 | #36,607 |
| 2009 | modern | 19 | #36,603 |
| 2010 | modern | 20 | #36,599 |
| 2011 | modern | 23 | #36,369 |
| 2012 | modern | 19 | #36,641 |
| 2013 | modern | 24 | #36,344 |
| 2014 | modern | 24 | #36,358 |
| 2015 | modern | 23 | #36,424 |
| 2016 | modern | 26 | #36,254 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Mary Whitechapel, Pleasley, Liverpool, St Giles Cripplegate and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Mary Whitechapel | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Pleasley | Nottinghamshire |
| 3 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 4 | St Giles Cripplegate | London (Central Districts) |
| 5 | St Matthew Bethnal Green | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bernet surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bernet, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Bernet surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bernet household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Bernet is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bernet is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bernet, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bernet finds its origins in France, where it first emerged in the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "bernet," which referred to a type of dark brown or reddish-brown color. This could suggest that the name was initially given as a nickname to someone with hair or a complexion of this particular shade.
In its earliest recorded instances, the name appeared as "Bernet" and "Bernat" in medieval French documents and records from the regions of Normandy and Brittany. These early spellings reflect the influence of the Norman language, which was closely related to Old French.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Jehan Bernet, a merchant from the town of Caen in Normandy, who was mentioned in tax records dating back to 1327. Another notable figure was Guillemin Bernet, a soldier who fought in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, as recorded in the muster rolls of the English army.
The surname Bernet can also be traced back to the village of Bernet, located in the department of Ain in eastern France. This place name likely contributed to the surname's development, as it was common for people to adopt surnames derived from the names of towns or villages where they lived or originated.
In the 16th century, the Bernet family was well-established in the region of Burgundy, where they held noble status. Jean Bernet (1492-1572), a prominent member of this family, served as a magistrate and councillor in the Parliament of Dijon.
Other notable individuals with the surname Bernet include:
1. Nicolas Bernet (1590-1668), a French Catholic theologian and writer from Dijon. 2. Jacques Bernet (1765-1841), a French general who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. 3. Étienne Bernet (1842-1912), a Swiss industrialist and entrepreneur who founded the Bernet Chocolate Company in Geneva. 4. Georges Bernet (1888-1971), a French painter and artist known for his Cubist-inspired works. 5. Lucien Bernet (1909-1993), a Swiss Olympic cyclist who competed in the 1936 Berlin Games.
Over the centuries, the Bernet surname has spread across various regions of France and beyond, carried by individuals and families who migrated or established themselves in different parts of Europe and the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bernet surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 10 Bernets recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.46x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 10 | 4.46x |
| Northumberland | 9 | 26.96x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 1.80x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westgate in Northumberland leads with 8 Bernets recorded in 1881 and an index of 386.47x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Westgate | 8 | 386.47x |
| Bethnal Green London | 7 | 71.79x |
| Mirfield | 3 | 245.90x |
| St Luke London | 2 | 55.56x |
| Manningham | 1 | 36.50x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 8.35x |
| Tynemouth | 1 | 55.87x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bernet surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bernet surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Bernet households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Baker (Master) | 1 |
| Baker Assistant | 1 |
| Bed Sacking Maker | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Ladys Maid | 1 |
| Logwood Cutter | 1 |
| Shoe Maker | 1 |
| Shoe Maker Wife | 1 |
| Tanner | 1 |
| Woollen Weaver | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 22 people were recorded with the Bernet surname. That placed it at #30,464 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 26 in 2016. That gives Bernet a modern rank of #36,254.
A habitational surname derived from a place name in France or Switzerland.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bernet bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.