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Bernardus is a Latinized version or Bernard, which is composed or Bern ("bear"), a poetic term for warrior, and (h)ard "that which is hard, brave, firm etc.". It's tempting to think that it means "hard bear", or "brave warrior", but the elements of German dithematic names have independent (and sometimes conflicting) meanings, so it is "bear" and "hard", not "hard bear". Johun is obscure, but may be a variant of Johan, from the Hebrew name. TerHorst belongs in the surname board, but is a southern dialect/language version of the German phrase "der Horst", "of the hurst or coppice (a wood managed for regular cutting and regrowth for timber or firewood—most trees when cut, even at the base, will regrow until quite late in life). A hurst may be managed for nuts or mast (fruit/nuts of wild trees) used as animal feed rather than coppicing, but because of regular pruning/cutting the trees do not reach the great sizes they otherwise might.

This message was edited 2/3/2018, 6:41 AM