Behr is a given name and surname that derives from the German ''Bär'' (''

bear Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family (biology), family Ursidae (). They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats ...

''). Older forms of the name, ''Bela'' and ''Belo'' (related to the

old High German Old High German (OHG; ) is the earliest stage of the German language, conventionally identified as the period from around 500/750 to 1050. Rather than representing a single supra-regional form of German, Old High German encompasses the numerous ...

''Belo''), occur in the

Memorbuch A Memorbuch or memor-book (, ) is a book listing localities or countries in which Jews have been persecuted, together with the names of the martyrs, and necrologies. Name The memor-book was originally called either ''sefer zikkaron'' ('Book of Re ...

. The diminutive forms ''Baeril'' ''(Berel)'' and ''Baerush'' ''(Berush)'' are used among Polish and Russian Jews. An additional origin of the name is from

Middle Dutch Middle Dutch is a collective name for a number of closely related West Germanic dialects whose ancestor was Old Dutch. It was spoken and written between 1150 and 1500. Until the advent of Modern Dutch after 1500 or , there was no overarching sta ...

''baer'' meaning ''naked'' or ''bare'', possibly indicating someone who wore rags.

Given name

* Behr Perlhefter (1650–1713), Jewish scholar and rabbi

Surname

* Barbara Behr, photographer, film director and magazine editor *

Bernd Behr Bernd Behr (born 1976) is a Taiwanese artist based in London. Biography Born in Hamburg in 1976 and raised in Malaysia, Behr studied at San José State University, California and Goldsmiths, University of London, London. Behr was shortlisted fo ...

(born 1976), German artist * Bill Behr (1919–1997), American professional basketball player * Bram Behr (1951–1982), Surinamese journalist * Carel Jacobus Behr (1812–1895), Dutch painter, watercolorist and draftsman * Carl Behr (1874–1943), German ophthalmologist * Carlos Boloña Behr (1950–2018), Peruvian politician * Christoph Behr (born 1989), German footballer * Dani Behr (born 1971), British television presenter and singer * Edgar Behr (1910–1985), German sailor * Emilio Behr (1995), Dutch DJ, record producer and musician known by his stage name Justin Mylo * Felicia Minei Behr (born 1942), American television producer and network executive * Franz Behr (1837–1898), German composer * Giorgio Behr (born 1948), Swiss businessman and professor *

Hans Hermann Behr Hans Hermann Behr (August 18, 1818, Köthen (Anhalt), Köthen – March 6, 1904, San Francisco) was a German Americans, German-American Physician, doctor, entomologist and botanist. At the time of his death, the ''San Francisco Chronicle'' r ...

(1818–1904), German-American botanist and entomologist *

Ira Steven Behr Ira Steven Behr (born October 23, 1953) is an American screenwriter and television producer, best known for his work on ''Star Trek'', especially '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', on which he served as showrunner and executive producer. He was th ...

(born 1953), American television producer and scriptwriter * James Behr, American pianist, composer, recording artist and educator * Jason Behr (born 1973), American actor * Jean-Paul Behr (born 1947), French chemist * Johann Behr (1655–1700), an Austrian author, court official and composer *

John Behr John Behr (born 16 October 1966) is a British Eastern Orthodox priest and theologian. Since 2020, he has served as the Regius Professor of Humanity at the University of Aberdeen. He is the former dean of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Se ...

(born 1966), British Eastern Orthodox priest and theologian * Julia Behr, German portrait painter * Kaelyn Behr, birth name of Styalz Fuego, an Australian music producer, vocalist and songwriter * Karl Behr (1885–1949), American tennis player, banker, and survivor of the sinking of RMS ''Titanic'' *

Kurt von Behr Kurt is a male given name in Germanic languages. ''Kurt'' or ''Curt'' originated as short forms of the Germanic Konrad/Conrad, depending on geographical usage, with meanings including counselor or advisor. Like Conrad, it can also a surname an ...

(1890–1945), head of Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg in France; see Bruno Lohse * Mark Behr (1963–2015), South African author * Matthias Behr (born 1955), German foil fencer. *

Noam Behr Noam Behr (; born 13 October 1975) is an Israeli professional tennis player who turned pro in 1994. His career-high singles ranking was No. 127 (October 2001), and his career-high doubles ranking was No. 109 (October 1999). Tennis career Most ...

(born 1975), tennis player * Ottomar von Behr (1810–1856), German-American meteorologist and naturalist * Pamela Behr (born 1956), retired German alpine ski racer * Paul Behr, recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross * Peter H. Behr (1915–1997), California State Senator and lawyer * Rafael Behr, a columnist at ''The Guardian'', since 2014, and former political editor at the ''New Statesman'' * Reinhold Behr (born 1948), German fencer * Sepp Behr (born 1931), German Olympic alpine skier * Therese Behr (1876–1959), German contralto (married name: Schnabel) * Victor de Behr, Belgian athlete whose main event was water polo * William Joseph Behr (1775–1851), German writer * Winrich Behr (1918–2011), German soldier

References

German-language surnames Surnames from nicknames {{Bear-surname

Given name

Surname

See also

References