We do know that Jacob Bare comes from an area in Pennsylvania that contained a large population of German "Bairs".¹ In fact, Jacob's son, Henry W. Bare, was a German Baptist minister for about 30 years in Ohio.

Joseph Elmer Bair often spelled his last name at least three different ways: "Bair," "Bear" and "Bahr". His father and grandfather often spelled their names as "Bear."

The original spelling of the German name "Bär" (meaning a beast) is now standardized as "Baer" in Germany and Switzerland. (The established Bär families had a coat of arms with a bear carrying three sheaves.)

The spelling has been translated in America in at least 38 official different ways. In one instance, in the early 1800's, the same man's name was spelled five different ways on a land title in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.

Studies on the European history of the "Bair" family thus far indicate that the most probable areas of success are the vicinities of Bern and Zurich, Switzerland, and the Northern Kraichgau (south of Frankfort on Mainz) e.g. Durham, Germany.

Migrations from Switzerland to Germany and thence to America during the late 1600's and early 1700's were the result of religious, political and economic turmoil going on during that period.

The usual procedure was to move by boat to Germany from Switzerland for four or five years; then travel down the Rhine River to Holland and take the small English ships to England for a short stay (where they were required to swear an oath of allegiance as subjects under the British Government); thence travel by these tiny boats for months to the New World. Many died enroute of scurvy and unsanitary conditions in these crowded ships.³

Written and edited by Royce L. Bair from research compiled by Clyde Jay Bair.