Berkeley Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Berkeley last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Berkeley last name
Meaning of the Berkeley last name: birch wood. Berkeley is an English surname from Berkeley in Gloucestershire, from Old English beorc, "birch", and leah, "wood, clearing". Berkeley Castle has been the family seat for centuries. The philosopher George Berkeley gave his name to the city in California, and Barclay is a Scottish branch of this last name.
Arms associated with the Berkeley name
Coats of arms associated with the Berkeley surname follow English heraldry, each set out in a short blazon.
Get your full Berkeley family history
This is only a glimpse of the Berkeley story. The full Berkeley history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Berkeley coat of arms. Get the full Berkeley report.
Berkeley name FAQ
What does the Berkeley name mean?
Birch wood. Common variants include Barclay, Berkley.
Where does the Berkeley surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Berkeley coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Berkeley coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).