Bernard Coat of Arms & Family Crest
Where the Bernard name began, what it means, and how Herald Lab researches a Bernard coat of arms.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Bernard coat of arms for you.
Origin of the Bernard name
Bernard comes from the Germanic personal name Bernhard, combining bern, "bear", and hard, "brave" or "strong". The fame of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux helped fix it as a favourite medieval given name, and it became one of the most common surnames in France, also spreading into neighbouring countries.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Bernard name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Bernard name in France. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Belgium, Canada and the United States; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Bernard family history
Your full Bernard pack adds the researched history, early records and migration, with your painted coat of arms ready to print.
Bernard name FAQ
What does the Bernard name mean?
Brave as a bear. Common variants include Bernardeau, Bernart, Bernhard.
Where does the Bernard surname come from?
It originates in France, and is also found in Belgium, Canada and the United States.
Is there a Bernard coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Bernard crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Bernard coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Albert Dauzat & Marie-Thérèse Morlet, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).