Bergen
A surname that can come from places named Bergen, or from a Germanic word for “hill” or “mountain.”
The #5,711 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 50,831 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Bergen is most often a locational surname, taken from one of several places called Bergen in the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, or elsewhere in northern Europe. In Germanic languages, the underlying element is commonly related to words for “hill,” “mountain,” or a raised place. In some cases it may also be tied to a place-name sense like “the hills” rather than a direct descriptive nickname.
History
The surname appears in different European traditions, so not every Bergen family shares the same origin. In Dutch and German settings it is usually a habitational name, while in Scandinavian contexts it may point to residence near Bergen or to the geographic term itself. English-language sources also treat it as a place-based name and note it alongside forms such as Berg and Berger.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The Dutch preposition van in van Bergen literally means “from Bergen,” making the place connection especially transparent.
From the historical record
“Benyon. See Bennion Berbidge. See Burbage Bergan, Bergen. See Burgoyne Bergin. See Burgoyne Berkeley. A loc. n., Glos. Berrall. See Burrell Berrett. See Barret”
— British Family Names: their origin and meaning (2nd ed.)