Berkeley Surname

The Origins of the Berkeley Surname

The surname Berkeley is of English origin, derived from a place name in Gloucestershire, England. The name comes from the Old English words "beorg" (meaning hill) and "leah" (meaning woodland or clearing). This suggests that the original bearers of the surname may have lived near or on a hill in a wooded area.

The Berkeley name has a long history in England, dating back to at least the early medieval period. The Berkeley family has been an influential and prominent family in English history, with connections to nobility and royalty.

Notable Bearers of the Berkeley Surname

One of the most famous bearers of the Berkeley surname is the Berkeley family of Gloucestershire, who have held the title of Baron Berkeley since the 12th century. The Barons Berkeley were powerful landowners and members of the English nobility, with close ties to the royal family.

Another notable bearer of the Berkeley surname is Sir William Berkeley, who served as Governor of the Virginia Colony in the 17th century. Sir William Berkeley played a significant role in the early history of the American colonies and is remembered for his controversial policies and actions during his time in office.

Throughout history, the Berkeley surname has been associated with wealth, power, and influence. Many branches of the Berkeley family have held positions of authority and prestige in England and beyond.

Distribution of the Berkeley Surname

The Berkeley surname is most commonly found in the United States, where it is the most prevalent. According to data, there are 2,220 individuals with the surname Berkeley in the United States. The surname is also popular in England, with 669 individuals bearing the name in England.

Other countries where the Berkeley surname is found include South Africa (393 individuals), Australia (361 individuals), Israel (269 individuals), and Canada (255 individuals). The surname is also present in smaller numbers in countries such as Ireland, Colombia, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Overall, the Berkeley surname has a widespread presence across the globe, with individuals bearing the name in various countries and regions.

Variants of the Berkeley Surname

Like many surnames, the Berkeley name has various spelling variations and phonetic variants. Some common variants of the Berkeley surname include Berkley, Barkley, Barklay, and Barkeley. These variants may have arisen due to differences in regional accents, dialects, and pronunciation.

Despite these variations, the core meaning and origin of the Berkeley surname remain consistent. The name still reflects its Old English roots and the association with hills and woodlands.

Interesting Facts about the Berkeley Surname

One interesting fact about the Berkeley surname is that it is featured in various literary works and historical documents. The name has appeared in novels, plays, and poems, and has been used to evoke ideas of nobility, heritage, and tradition.

Additionally, the Berkeley surname has connections to the world of academia and scholarship. Many individuals with the surname Berkeley have made significant contributions to fields such as literature, history, and philosophy, further adding to the legacy of the name.

Overall, the Berkeley surname is a rich and storied name with a long history and a diverse presence around the world. From the noble Barons Berkeley of England to the modern-day bearers of the name in the United States and beyond, the Berkeley surname continues to be a symbol of heritage and prestige.

The surname Berkeley within the globe

Globalization has meant that surnames distribute far beyond their country of origin, so that it can be done to find African surnames in Europe or Indian surnames in Oceania. Exactly the same takes place in the case of Berkeley, which as you're able to corroborate, it can be said that it is a surname which can be found in a lot of the countries of this globe. In the same way you will find nations in which undoubtedly the thickness of men and women using the surname Berkeley is more than in other countries.

The map of the Berkeley surname

View Berkeley surname map

The possibility of examining on a globe map about which nations hold a greater number of Berkeley in the world, helps us plenty. By putting ourselves on the map, for a tangible country, we could begin to see the tangible number of individuals with all the surname Berkeley, to obtain in this manner the precise information of all Berkeley that one may presently find in that country. All this also assists us to know not merely in which the surname Berkeley originates from, but also in what way the individuals that are initially the main family members that bears the surname Berkeley have moved and moved. Just as, you can see by which places they've settled and developed, and that's why if Berkeley is our surname, it seems interesting to which other countries of this world it's possible that one of our ancestors once relocated to.

Countries with more Berkeley in the world

  1. United States United States (2220)
  2. England England (669)
  3. South Africa South Africa (393)
  4. Australia Australia (361)
  5. Israel Israel (269)
  6. Canada Canada (255)
  7. Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (212)
  8. Vanuatu Vanuatu (197)
  9. Ireland Ireland (187)
  10. Colombia Colombia (51)
  11. Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis (39)
  12. U.S. Virgin Islands U.S. Virgin Islands (39)
  13. Bermuda Bermuda (36)
  14. Panama Panama (26)
  15. New Zealand New Zealand (23)
  16. France France (22)
  17. Scotland Scotland (19)
  18. Grenada Grenada (18)
  19. India India (17)
  20. Wales Wales (16)
  21. Palestinian Territory Palestinian Territory (11)
  22. Jamaica Jamaica (10)
  23. Sweden Sweden (10)
  24. Netherlands Netherlands (9)
  25. Nothern Ireland Nothern Ireland (9)
  26. Germany Germany (8)
  27. Spain Spain (7)
  28. Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda (6)
  29. Saint Lucia Saint Lucia (6)
  30. Poland Poland (5)
  31. Nigeria Nigeria (4)
  32. China China (4)
  33. Portugal Portugal (4)
  34. Jersey Jersey (3)
  35. Bahamas Bahamas (3)
  36. Guyana Guyana (3)
  37. Italy Italy (2)
  38. United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates (2)
  39. Brazil Brazil (2)
  40. Venezuela Venezuela (2)
  41. Iran Iran (1)
  42. South Korea South Korea (1)
  43. Barbados Barbados (1)
  44. Kazakhstan Kazakhstan (1)
  45. Benin Benin (1)
  46. Monaco Monaco (1)
  47. Mexico Mexico (1)
  48. Switzerland Switzerland (1)
  49. Norway Norway (1)
  50. Chile Chile (1)
  51. Pakistan Pakistan (1)
  52. Cyprus Cyprus (1)
  53. Ethiopia Ethiopia (1)
  54. Russia Russia (1)
  55. Singapore Singapore (1)
  56. Thailand Thailand (1)
  57. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1)
  58. Honduras Honduras (1)
  59. Hungary Hungary (1)