Surname MacBernie - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacBernie: What does the surname MacBernie mean?
The surname MacBernie is of Scottish origin and it is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Biorna, which means "son of Biorn or Bjorn". The name Biorn or Bjorn is of Norse origin, and it means "bear", symbolizing strength and power. The 'Mac' prefix in Gaelic surnames denotes 'son of', so the last name can be interpreted as 'son of Biorn or Bjorn'. The surname has undergone various spelling changes over the centuries and may also appear as MacBirnie, McBurnie, MacBurnie, among others. As the name suggests, individuals with this surname likely have ancestors who demonstrated strength or valor, or perhaps were imposing physical figures, akin to a bear. Like many surnames, it would have been a way to identify individuals in a larger community by their lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisMacBernie: Where does the name MacBernie come from?
The surname MacBernie is of Scottish origin. It is derived from Mac, meaning "son of," and Bernie, possibly a variant of the Gaelic personal name Beircheart, which translates to "hardy" or "brave" as a bear. Mac surnames typically originated from the Gaelic-speaking regions of Scotland, and were often used to denote kinship or familial relationships.
As for its prevalence today, like many other Scottish surnames, MacBernie can be found in various parts of the world due to the historical migration of Scottish people. However, it is worth mentioning that the surname MacBernie is relatively uncommon, even in the United Kingdom. Using population data, one could infer that the surname probably exists in western countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia, where Scottish immigrants have historically settled. Due to its rarity, the exact regions in these countries where the MacBernie surname is most common may be hard to pinpoint.
Variations of the surname MacBernie
The surname MacBernie is of Scottish origin, which translates as "Son of Bernie". This surname has undergone various modifications over the centuries and has different variants and spellings.
Some of the most common variants and similar surnames include McBernie, MacBerny, MacBerni, McBerny, and McBerni. These versions typically use the Irish or Scottish prefix "Mac" or "Mc", meaning "Son of".
The surname could also be spelled without the prefix, as Bernie, Berny, or Berni. Additionally, the name Bernie itself could also have alternative spelling such as Berney, Berney, Burnie, Burney, and Burny.
Surnames with similar roots or origin might include derivations of the name Bernard, because Bernie is a diminutive of Bernard. Such variants could include MacBernard, McBernard or simply Bernard.
It's important to note, variations of surnames often occur due to an oral tradition of naming, misspellings, translation errors, and region-based preferences over time. As such, many more deviations and spellings may exist for MacBernie that are not captured here.
Famous people with the name MacBernie
- Hermon MacBernie: Canadian film and television actor and director known for roles in The Real Housewives of Vancouver and Ice Twisters.
- Cyndi MacBernie: Actress and musician, best known for her roles in the TV series Supernatural and roles in independent films.
- Anne MacBernie: Canadian actress and singer, known for her part in the film The Accidental Mr. Smee.
- Derek MacBernie: Former professional ice hockey player, most notably playing for Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks.
- Allison MacBernie: Canadian actress, model and singer, known for roles in the films Love by Design and Summer of Dreams.
- Ginger MacBernie: American actress and singer, known for her roles in Guiding Light and Lee Daniels’ The Butler.
- Chris MacBernie: Professional figure skater and three-time Canadian champion.
- Gail MacBernie: American author, best known for her historical and mystery novels.
- John MacBernie: American composer, lyricist and theatre artist, best known for writing the musicals JC Superstar and Little Shop of Horrors.
- Nolan MacBernie: Australian Olympic sprint canoer, competed in the 1990, 1994 and 1998 Summer Games.