Behrend is a German surname, derived from the given name Bernd, which itself is a short form of Bernhard. The name Bernhard ultimately traces back to Bernard, from the Old German elements bern meaning "bear" and hart meaning "hard, firm, brave, hardy." Thus, Behrend carries the rich connotation of "strong as a bear." Etymology and History The evolution of Behrend begins with Bernard, a name brought to England by Normans and popularized by several saints, including Saint Bernard of Menthon and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. In the German-speaking regions, the name morphed through Bernhard to Bernd, and eventually into the surname Behrend. This pattern is typical of German patronymic surnames, where the father's given name is used to create a family name with the addition of a suffix. The variant Behrends features a genitive 's', meaning "son of Behrend." Notable Bearers Notable individuals with the surname Behrend include German-born American businessman John C. Behrend (1848–1922), who settled in Detroit and established the Behrend Brothers Company, a wholesale grocery and dairy business. Another prominent figure is the German-American painter and printmaker Gustave Adolph Behrend (1863–1936), known for landscapes and portraits. In academia, the American philosopher and law professor Daniel B. Behrend (c. 1950–) has made contributions in philosophy of language. Distribution According to the 2010 United States Census, Behrend is the 24,499th most common surname in the U.S., with about 1,021 bearers. It is mostly found among individuals identifying as White (95.0%). The surname is primarily concentrated in Germany and areas of German settlement, including the United States and some parts of South America. Related Names Behrend is part of a wider family of names rooted in Bernard. Other cognates and linguistic variants include the Dutch Barends, Norwegian Berntsen, Italian Bernardi, Catalan Bernat, and Czech Bernardová. In the Benelux, the name often appears as Behrends, where the suffix 's' indicates filial heritage. Similarly, the given forms Bernd and Bernhard remain popular in modern Germany. Meaning: Bear + brave/hard (ultimately derived from the given name Bernard) Origin: German Type: Patronymic surname Usage Regions: Germany, United States, Netherlands