Behr

For other uses, see Behr (disambiguation).
Behr
Language(s)German
Origin
MeaningBear
Region of originGermany
Other names
Variant form(s)Baer, Bear, Bähr

Behr is a given name and surname that derives from the German Bär (bear). Older forms of the name, Bela and Belo (related to the old High German Belo), occur in the Memorbuch. The diminutive forms Baeril (Berel) and Baerush (Berush) are used among Polish and Russian Jews.[1]

An additional origin of the name is from Middle Dutch baer meaning naked or bare, possibly indicating someone who wore rags.[2]

  1. ^ "BAER, BEER, BEHR - JewishEncyclopedia.com". www.jewishencyclopedia.com. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  2. ^ Hanks, Patrick; Coates, Richard; McClure, Peter (2016). The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland. Oxford University Press. p. 116. ISBN 9780192527479.