Skip to main content

Updated June 9, 2019

Family name origins & meanings

  • English : nickname from Old English bær ‘bare’, which in medieval times in addition to the sense ‘naked’, ‘uncovered’, also meant ‘unarmed’, ‘defenseless’, ‘unconcealed’, ‘destitute’.
  • Altered spelling of German Bär (see Baer).

Subscribe to Family Education

Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning.

Subscribe