baars

Baars is a surname of Dutch origin. It most likely derives from the Dutch word baars, meaning perch, a freshwater fish. As a toponymic or occupational name, it may have originally described someone associated with waters where perch are common or a person who fished for perch.

The surname is most commonly found in the Netherlands and among Dutch-descended communities. It has spread to other countries through migration, including regions with historical Dutch influence. As with many surnames of this type, geographic distribution today reflects historical settlement patterns and modern mobility.

Notable individuals with the surname include Bernard Baars, a Dutch-American cognitive scientist and author known for contributions to theories of consciousness, including the Global Workspace Theory. The name is borne by people across diverse fields, and no single occupation dominates among its bearers.

In Dutch, baars also means the perch fish, a fact sometimes noted in linguistic or cultural contexts. This lexical use can intersect with place names or regional histories, but the surname Baars is primarily treated as a family name in contemporary references.