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

bear Bears are carnivoran mammals of the 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 throughout the Nor ...

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

old High German Old High German (OHG; german: Althochdeutsch (Ahd.)) is the earliest stage of the German language, conventionally covering the period from around 750 to 1050. There is no standardised or supra-regional form of German at this period, and Old High ...

''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 c. 1550, there was no overarch ...

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

Given name

Behr Perlhefter Behr Shmuel Issachar Leyb ben Judah Moses Eybeschuetz Perlhefter (c. 1650 in Prague – after 1713 in Prague) was a Jewish scholar and rabbi. His educated wife Bella bat R. Jakob Perlhefter (Isabell, Bella, Bilah, died 1710 in Prague), corresponde ...

(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 for ...

(born 1976), German artist * Bill Behr (1919–1997), American professional basketball player *

Bram Behr Abraham Maurits "Bram" Behr (18 January 1951 – 8 December 1982) was a Surinamese journalist. He published the pamphlet ''De Rode Surinamer'' and edited the weekly newspaper ''Mokro''. He also founded (24 June 1973) and led the Hoxhaist Commu ...

(1951–1982), Surinamese journalist *

Carel Jacobus Behr Carel Jacobus Behr (9 July 1812 in The Hague – 11 November 1895) was a Dutch painter, watercolorist and draftsman. He was a pupil of Bartholomeus Johannes van Hove Bartholomeus Johannes van Hove (October 28, 1790 in The Hague – Novembe ...

(1812–1895), Dutch painter, watercolorist and draftsman *

Carl Behr Carl Julius Peter Behr (28 October 1874 – 16 November 1943) was a German ophthalmologist born in Hamburg. In 1909 he described an hereditary syndrome of optic and neurologic disorders now known as Behr's syndrome. After attending several univer ...

(1874–1943), German ophthalmologist * Carlos Boloña Behr (1950–2018), Peruvian politician * Christoph Behr (born 1989), German footballer *

Dani Behr Dani Behr (born 9 July 1970) is an English former singer, actress, voice-over artist, and television presenter. Early life Behr was born in Mill Hill, London, of South African Jewish descent. Her father is a partner in London estate agents Be ...

(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 Emilio Justin Behr (born 7 November 1995), better known by his stage name Justin Mylo, is a Dutch musician, DJ and record producer from Amsterdam. He gained recognition after working and collaborating with Martin Garrix on the single " Bouncybob ...

Felicia Minei Behr Felicia Minei Behr is an American television producer and network executive who has worked on three daytime serials. She helped launch '' All My Children'' and won 2 Emmys for Best Drama Series as Executive Producer of the show, in 1992 and 1994. ...

(born 1942), American television producer and network executive *

Franz Behr Franz Behr (22 July 1837 – 15 February 1898) was a prolific, but minor, and now almost forgotten, German composer of songs and salon pieces for piano. Behr was popular at one time, and many of his works were published (his opus numbers reach ...

(1837–1898), German composer *

Giorgio Behr Giorgio Behr (born 18 September 1948, Schaffhausen, Switzerland) is a Swiss businessman, lawyer, accountant and university professor. Behr is the founder and former chairman of the Behr Bircher Cellpack BBC as well as president of the Swiss ha ...

(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 James Behr is an American pianist, composer, recording artist & educator. Biography Pianist and composer James Behr is a graduate of The Juilliard School (MM and BM) and has performed throughout the U.S. Behr won first prize in the 2013 Bradshaw ...

, American pianist, composer, recording artist and educator *

Jason Behr Jason Behr (born December 30, 1973) is an American film and television actor. He first starred in the American television series '' Roswell'', for which he was twice nominated for a Saturn Award, followed by roles in the films ''The Shipping New ...

(born 1973), American actor *

Jean-Paul Behr Jean-Paul Behr (born 29 June 1947) is a French chemist, elected member of the French Academy of Sciences (since December 2008). Research director at the Centre national de la recherche scientifique, CNRS, he is known for his work in the field of ...

(born 1947), French chemist *

Johann Behr Johann Beer (also spelled Bähr, Baer, or Behr, Latinized as Ursus or Ursinus; (28 February 1655, in Sankt Georgen – 6 August 1700, in Weissenfels) was an Austrian author, court official and composer. Biography Beer was born in Austria to Pro ...

(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 Seminar ...

(born 1966), British Eastern Orthodox priest and theologian * Julia Behr, German portrait painter *

Kaelyn Behr Kaelyn Behr, known professionally as Styalz Fuego, is an Australian music producer, songwriter, vocalist and artist based in Melbourne. Styalz is renowned for his diverse production and songwriting, and most known for his eclectic take on hip-h ...

, birth name of Styalz Fuego, an Australian music producer, vocalist and songwriter *

Karl Behr Karl Howell Behr (May 30, 1885 – October 15, 1949) was an American tennis player and banker. He was also a survivor of the sinking of . Personal life Karl Howell Behr was born the son of Herman and Grace (née Howell) Behr of New York City. ...

(1885–1949), American tennis player, banker, and survivor of the sinking of RMS ''Titanic'' *

Kurt von Behr Kurt Freiherr von Behr (1 March 1890 in Hannover – 19 April 1945 in Kloster Banz) headed the Nazi art looting organisation, Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg (ERR), in Paris and was involved in the M-Action which looted the home furnishings of ...

(born 1945), head of Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg in France; see

Bruno Lohse Bruno Lohse (17 September 1911 – 19 March 2007) was a German art dealer and SS-Hauptsturmführer who, during World War II, became the chief art looter in Paris for Hermann Göring, helping the Nazi leader amass a vast collection of plundered a ...

Mark Behr Mark Behr (19 October 1963 – 27 November 2015) was a Tanzanian-born writer who grew up in South Africa. He was professor of English literature and creative writing at Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee. He also taught in the MA program at the U ...

(1963–2015), South African author *

Matthias Behr Matthias Behr (born 1 April 1955 in Tauberbischofsheim, Baden-Württemberg) is a former German foil fencer. He won a gold medal and three silvers at three Olympic Games. Biography Matthias Behr attended the Kaufmännische Schule Tauberbischofsh ...

(born 1955), German foil fencer. *

Noam Behr Noam Behr ( he, נועם בר; 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). T ...

(born 1975), tennis player * Ottomar von Behr (1810–1856), German-American meteorologist and naturalist *

Pamela Behr Pamela Behr (born September 21, 1956 in Hindelang, then West Germany) is a retired German alpine ski racer. She is the second youngest person ever to win an FIS Alpine Ski World Cup race, winning a slalom in Val d'Isere, France, in December 197 ...

(born 1956), retired German alpine ski racer * Paul Behr, recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross *

Peter H. Behr Peter H. Behr (May 24, 1915 – March 10, 1997) was a California State Senator and lawyer. Early life and career Born in New York City, Behr attended primary school in NYC before moving to Lawrenceville, New Jersey where he attended high sch ...

(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 Sepp Behr (20 February 1930 – 11 July 2023) was a German alpine skier who competed in the 1956 Winter Olympics The 1956 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VII Olympic Winter Games ( it, VII Giochi Olimpici invernali) and commonly known ...

(born 1931), German Olympic alpine skier *

Therese Behr Therese Schnabel (''née'' Behr; 14 September 1876 – 30 January 1959) was a German contralto. She was best known for her interpretations of lieder. Life Therese Behr was born to interior designer Carl Behr and his wife Lina Behr (née Zenegg) ...

(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