NameCensus.

UK surname

Barbier

A surname referring to a barber or someone associated with that profession.

In the 1881 census there were 25 people recorded with the Barbier surname, ranking it #30,077 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 117, ranked #28,033, up from #30,077 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, Kingston upon Thames and Eden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barbier is 125 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 368.0%.

1881 census count

25

Ranked #30,077

Modern count

117

2016, ranked #28,033

Peak year

1998

125 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Barbier had 25 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,077 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016, ranked #28,033.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 74 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Barbier surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barbier surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barbier 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 18 #30,094
1861 historical 26 #30,677
1881 historical 25 #30,077
1891 historical 48 #30,447
1901 historical 58 #27,724
1911 historical 74 #25,423
1997 modern 117 #24,553
1998 modern 125 #24,198
1999 modern 119 #25,095
2000 modern 115 #25,591
2001 modern 121 #24,493
2002 modern 120 #25,110
2003 modern 117 #25,282
2004 modern 118 #25,317
2005 modern 112 #26,114
2006 modern 105 #27,479
2007 modern 110 #27,087
2008 modern 114 #26,796
2009 modern 116 #27,062
2010 modern 115 #27,874
2011 modern 115 #27,634
2012 modern 112 #28,174
2013 modern 120 #27,406
2014 modern 120 #27,646
2015 modern 121 #27,405
2016 modern 117 #28,033

Geography

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Where Barbiers 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 Cheshire East, Kingston upon Thames, Eden, Gwynedd and Dudley. 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 Cheshire East 051 Cheshire East
2 Kingston upon Thames 005 Kingston upon Thames
3 Eden 001 Eden
4 Gwynedd 005 Gwynedd
5 Dudley 016 Dudley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barbier

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barbier

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Barbier, 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

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Barbier surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Barbier 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 never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Barbier is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Barbier 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

Barbier falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Barbier is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Barbier

The surname Barbier is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "barbier" meaning "barber" or "one who cuts beards and hair." The name first emerged in the 12th century as an occupational surname, referring to individuals who practiced the trade of barbering.

In medieval times, barbers not only cut hair and trimmed beards but also performed minor surgical procedures, such as bloodletting and tooth extraction. The Barbier name was prominent in various regions of France, particularly in the northern and central areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Barbier name can be found in the "Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Sainte-Geneviève de Paris" (Cartulary of the Abbey of Sainte-Geneviève in Paris), dated around the 13th century, where a certain "Radulphus Barbier" is mentioned.

The name Barbier has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. Jean Barbier (1718-1762), a French playwright and librettist, is known for his contributions to the development of the French opera comique genre. Another prominent bearer of this name was Jules Barbier (1825-1901), a French novelist and librettist who collaborated with composers such as Gounod and Saint-Saëns.

In the realm of literature, Henri Auguste Barbier (1805-1882) was a French poet and satirist, best known for his work "Iambes" (Iambic Verses), which criticized the political and social conditions of his time. The name Barbier also appears in the historical records of the Duchy of Brittany, where Jean Barbier (1625-1701) served as the personal physician to the Duke of Brittany.

Moving beyond France, the Barbier surname can also be found in other parts of Europe. In Italy, the equivalent surname "Barbiere" has a similar origin and meaning. One notable bearer of this name was Gian Francesco Barbiere (1591-1666), an Italian painter and engraver active in the Baroque period.

While the Barbier surname has a rich historical background, it is important to note that the information provided here is based on historical records and may not reflect the current distribution or prevalence of the name in modern times.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Barbier families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barbier 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 19 Barbiers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.64x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 19 4.64x
Channel Islands 17 140.03x
Hampshire 2 2.38x
Kent 2 1.43x
Bedfordshire 1 4.71x
Devon 1 1.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Helier in Channel Islands leads with 10 Barbiers recorded in 1881 and an index of 253.16x.

Place Total Index
St Helier 10 253.16x
St Marylebone London 9 41.15x
St Owen 6 1875.00x
Islington London 2 5.04x
Paddington London 2 13.28x
St Pancras London 2 6.07x
Bethnal Green London 1 5.62x
Blunham 1 714.29x
Chelsea London 1 8.10x
Deal 1 84.03x
Gravesend 1 84.75x
Portsmouth 1 51.81x
Ryde 1 55.56x
St Anne Soho London 1 42.74x
St George Hanover Square 1 13.85x
St Peter Port 1 44.44x
Withycombe Rawleigh 1 227.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 2
Jane 2
Adela 1
Cecile 1
Charlotte 1
Esther 1
Eugenie 1
Georgine 1
Jeannette 1
Joaise 1
Josephine 1
Lilian 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
M. 1
M.Jane 1
Mabel 1
Marie 1
Mathilde 1
Rachel 1
Rosa 1
Sarah 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 2
John 2
Philip 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Edward 1
Francois 1
G. 1
Harold 1
Henry 1
Jeane 1
Leon 1
Robert 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 Barbier households.

FAQ

Barbier surname: questions and answers

How common was the Barbier surname in 1881?

In 1881, 25 people were recorded with the Barbier surname. That placed it at #30,077 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Barbier surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016. That gives Barbier a modern rank of #28,033.

What does the Barbier surname mean?

A surname referring to a barber or someone associated with that profession.

What does the Barbier map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Barbier 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.