NameCensus.

UK surname

Biernat

A Polish surname derived from the personal name Biernatt, itself from Bernhard, meaning "bold as a bear."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset and Leslie and Newcastle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Biernat is 185 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

170

2016, ranked #21,801

Peak year

2014

185 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 170 in 2016, ranked #21,801.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Biernat surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Biernat surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Biernat 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
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1997 modern 45 #33,168
1998 modern 44 #33,462
1999 modern 49 #33,130
2000 modern 51 #32,999
2001 modern 51 #32,850
2002 modern 44 #33,790
2003 modern 51 #33,266
2004 modern 58 #32,880
2005 modern 69 #32,007
2006 modern 104 #27,646
2007 modern 120 #25,606
2008 modern 130 #24,695
2009 modern 142 #23,791
2010 modern 136 #25,009
2011 modern 155 #22,790
2012 modern 168 #21,516
2013 modern 182 #20,795
2014 modern 185 #20,739
2015 modern 177 #21,220
2016 modern 170 #21,801

Geography

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Where Biernats 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 Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Leslie and Newcastle, Upper Nithsdale and Wakefield. 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 Bristol 052 Bristol, City of
2 Bath and North East Somerset 020 Bath and North East Somerset
3 Leslie and Newcastle Fife
4 Upper Nithsdale Dumfries and Galloway
5 Wakefield 012 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Biernat

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Biernat

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Biernat surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Biernat household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Biernat is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Biernat is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Biernat falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Biernat is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Biernat

The surname Biernat is of Polish origin, believed to have emerged in the 13th century. It is a patronymic name derived from the personal name "Biernat", a diminutive of the Old Polish name "Biernatek". The name itself is thought to be linked to the Polish word "bierna", meaning "passive" or "inactive".

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Biernat can be found in the Księga Henrykowska (Book of Henryków) from the late 13th century, where a certain "Biernat de Smogorzow" was mentioned. This document is a valuable record of landowners and residents in the Silesian region of Poland during that time.

In the 15th century, the surname appears in the Akta Grodzkie i Ziemskie (Court and Municipal Records) of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. These records mention individuals such as "Jakub Biernat" and "Jan Biernat", indicating the surname's continued use and spread across various regions.

A notable individual bearing the Biernat surname was Stanisław Biernat (1573-1641), a Polish nobleman and military commander who fought in the Polish-Swedish Wars. He was knighted for his service and played a significant role in defending the city of Gdańsk against Swedish forces.

Another prominent figure was Józef Biernat (1829-1892), a Polish painter and illustrator known for his romantic landscapes and portraits. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków and his works were exhibited in various galleries across Europe.

In the 19th century, the Biernat surname gained prominence through the work of Józef Biernat (1805-1887), a Polish botanist and professor at the University of Warsaw. He made significant contributions to the study of plant anatomy and is considered a pioneer in the field of plant physiology.

Franciszek Biernat (1885-1962) was a Polish engineer and inventor who patented several innovative designs for mining equipment and machinery. His inventions were widely used in the coal mining industry and helped improve safety and efficiency in underground operations.

The Biernat surname has also been associated with various place names in Poland, such as the villages of Biernaty and Biernatki, further indicating its historical roots and geographical distribution within the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Biernat surname: questions and answers

How common is the Biernat surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 170 in 2016. That gives Biernat a modern rank of #21,801.

What does the Biernat surname mean?

A Polish surname derived from the personal name Biernatt, itself from Bernhard, meaning "bold as a bear."

What does the Biernat map show?

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