Berno

Berno is a masculine given name of medieval European origin. It appears in Latin and vernacular sources and has several variants, including Bernon, Bernone, and Bernoni. The most prominent bearer in historical records is Saint Berno of Cluny, also known as Berno of Baume.

Berno the monk was a Benedictine who became the first abbot of Cluny Abbey after being invited by William of Aquitaine to establish a new monastery. In 910, Cluny was founded in the Burgundian region of present-day France, and under Berno’s leadership the community emphasized a stricter observance of the Benedictine Rule. The foundation of Cluny became the seed of the Cluniac reform movement, which reshaped Western monasticism by promoting renewed discipline and extensive monastic networks that spread across medieval Europe. Berno is venerated as a saint in various Christian traditions, and his legacy is closely linked to the growth and influence of the Cluniac order.

Beyond this figure, the name Berno appears in medieval documents and continues to be used as a given name or surname in some European regions. Variants and Latin forms include Bernonius or Bernoni, while Italian sources may render the name as Bernone or Bernoni. In encyclopedic contexts, Berno is most typically identified with Saint Berno of Cluny, but the name's historical usage spans several centuries and cultures.