The surname Beren in Gloucesteshire

[ellyjane70]

We have an Ann Beren married in Bishops Cleeve in the late 1700's, and despite a great deal of research, cannot find her origins although we can find a Judith Beren marrying quite close by and a couple of people with the name Beren in Chipping Campden

Has anyone come across this name and has anyone any idea at all of it's origin-the only idea we have had suggested is that it may hail from the name Von Beren and be Germanic

[janbooth]

Phillimore's Marriage Index shows the marriage of Ann BEREN on 23 August 1774 at Bishops Cleeve to a Thos. GARDNER. It also shows the marriage at Bishops Cleeve on 8 March 1781 of a Mary BEREN to a John SURMAN by licence - perhaps a relative?

There is a burial at Cheltenham on 17 December 1841 of a Jane BERAN, aged 1 (source Gloucs FHS Burial Index 1813-51) but this is the only instance of the name on the Index. No instance of the name on the Gloucs FHS Baptismal Index 1813-37 nor on the Marriage Index 1800-37.

Janet

[Coromandel]

It may be a phonetic variation of another name. FamilySearch sometimes helps come up with ideas for possible variants. Confining the search to Gloucestershire, there are examples of all these spellings:

BARENS (e.g. a marriage in 1590), BAREN(N)ES, BERAN, BEARAN, BEAREN, BEHRENS, BERENS, BERRIN, BERRINES, BERRON, BEYRAN

as well as others that are perhaps related to BRYANT e.g. BERRAND, BERRANT.