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BERNIER Family History

This interesting name is of Norman French origin, and has two possible interpretations. Firstly, it may derive from the Norman personal name "Bernier", which was adopted from the Old Germanic given name "Berner", composed of the elements "ber, bern", bear, and "hari, heri", army. Secondly, the modern surname may derive from an occupational name for a keeper of hounds, from the Old Norman French term "bernier, berner", from "bren, bran", bran, on which the dogs were fed. The first recording of the surname (below) is from this source.