NameCensus.

UK surname

Barbe

A surname derived from the French word "barbe", meaning beard.

In the 1881 census there were 23 people recorded with the Barbe surname, ranking it #30,339 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 111, ranked #29,049, up from #30,339 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stockport, Westminster and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barbe is 116 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 382.6%.

1881 census count

23

Ranked #30,339

Modern count

111

2016, ranked #29,049

Peak year

2013

116 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Barbe had 23 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,339 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016, ranked #29,049.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 46 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Barbe surname distribution map

The map shows where the Barbe surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Barbe surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barbe over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 16 #30,441
1861 historical 46 #28,170
1881 historical 23 #30,339
1891 historical 45 #30,747
1901 historical 14 #32,506
1911 historical 12 #32,302
1997 modern 79 #29,672
1998 modern 82 #29,754
1999 modern 94 #28,593
2000 modern 92 #28,832
2001 modern 82 #29,714
2002 modern 82 #30,181
2003 modern 75 #30,994
2004 modern 82 #30,468
2005 modern 79 #30,950
2006 modern 70 #32,240
2007 modern 84 #31,067
2008 modern 84 #31,370
2009 modern 91 #30,944
2010 modern 97 #30,697
2011 modern 99 #30,218
2012 modern 102 #29,902
2013 modern 116 #27,992
2014 modern 109 #29,452
2015 modern 108 #29,512
2016 modern 111 #29,049

Geography

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Where Barbes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stockport, Westminster, Herefordshire, Southwark and Enfield. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stockport 004 Stockport
2 Westminster 010 Westminster
3 Herefordshire 005 Herefordshire, County of
4 Southwark 019 Southwark
5 Enfield 022 Enfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barbe

These lists show first names that appear often with the Barbe surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barbe

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Barbe, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Barbe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Barbe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Barbe is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Barbe is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Barbe falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Barbe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Barbe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Barbe

The surname BARBE originated in France during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "barbe," meaning "beard." This name was likely given as a nickname to someone with a particularly distinctive or prominent beard.

The earliest known record of the BARBE surname dates back to the 13th century in the region of Normandy, France. In the Domesday Book of 1086, a Norman landowner named Robertus Barbatus, which translates to "Robert the Bearded," is mentioned, indicating the use of "barbe" as a descriptive name at that time.

During the Middle Ages, the BARBE name appeared in various records and manuscripts across northern France, particularly in the regions of Normandy, Picardy, and Île-de-France. Some variations in spelling included Barbet, Barbey, and Barbier.

One of the earliest known individuals with the BARBE surname was Jean Barbe, a French poet and philosopher born in Paris in the late 14th century. He is renowned for his work "Le Livre de la Mutacion de Fortune" (The Book of the Mutation of Fortune), written around 1390.

Another notable figure was Pierre Barbe, a French architect and master mason who lived in the 16th century. He is credited with the design and construction of several notable buildings in Paris, including the Église Saint-Gervais-et-Saint-Protais, completed in 1621.

In the 17th century, François Barbe, a French missionary and explorer, traveled to Canada and explored parts of the Great Lakes region. He is known for his detailed accounts of the indigenous populations and their cultures.

During the 18th century, Jacques Barbe, a French revolutionary and politician, played a significant role in the events leading up to the French Revolution. He served as a deputy in the Estates-General and later in the National Constituent Assembly.

In the 19th century, Auguste Barbe, a French painter and illustrator, gained recognition for his detailed illustrations of historical events and landscapes. His works are found in various museums and private collections across Europe.

The BARBE surname has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through French emigration and colonization. However, its origins can be traced back to the fertile regions of northern France, where it emerged as a descriptive nickname during the Middle Ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Barbe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barbe surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 7 Barbes recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.12x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 7 3.12x
Surrey 5 4.57x
Lancashire 4 1.50x
Renfrewshire 2 11.50x
Sussex 2 5.29x
Hampshire 1 2.17x
Staffordshire 1 1.32x
Yorkshire 1 0.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 5 Barbes recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.89x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 5 34.89x
Liverpool 3 18.55x
St George Hanover Square 3 75.95x
Paisley High Church 2 144.93x
Westminster St James 2 86.58x
Amblecote 1 454.55x
Brighton 1 13.11x
Bromley London 1 20.24x
Hornsey 1 35.21x
Lancaster 1 63.29x
Lymington 1 294.12x
Newhaven 1 322.58x
York St Maurice 1 238.10x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Barbe surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Emma 2
Mary 2
Alice 1
Blanche 1
Charlotte 1
Frances 1
Helene 1
Matilda 1
Yvonne 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Barbe surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Alfred 2
William 2
Claude 1
Eugene 1
Henry 1
John 1
Joshua 1
Jukes 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Barbe households.

FAQ

Barbe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Barbe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 23 people were recorded with the Barbe surname. That placed it at #30,339 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Barbe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016. That gives Barbe a modern rank of #29,049.

What does the Barbe surname mean?

A surname derived from the French word "barbe", meaning beard.

What does the Barbe map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Barbe bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.