UK surname
A surname derived from the Old French term "bardeur" meaning a person who packed bales of goods.
In the 1881 census there were 51 people recorded with the Barder surname, ranking it #26,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 53, ranked #34,727, down from #26,428 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ecclesfield, Willesden and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barder is 129 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.9%.
1881 census count
51
Ranked #26,428
Modern count
53
2016, ranked #34,727
Peak year
1891
129 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Barder surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Barder surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 59 | #22,756 |
| 1861 | historical | 125 | #17,678 |
| 1881 | historical | 51 | #26,428 |
| 1891 | historical | 129 | #20,285 |
| 1901 | historical | 62 | #27,252 |
| 1911 | historical | 70 | #25,853 |
| 1997 | modern | 59 | #31,734 |
| 1998 | modern | 55 | #32,399 |
| 1999 | modern | 58 | #32,268 |
| 2000 | modern | 60 | #32,124 |
| 2001 | modern | 60 | #31,985 |
| 2002 | modern | 58 | #32,564 |
| 2003 | modern | 58 | #32,619 |
| 2004 | modern | 56 | #33,067 |
| 2005 | modern | 51 | #33,701 |
| 2006 | modern | 49 | #34,152 |
| 2007 | modern | 52 | #34,195 |
| 2008 | modern | 55 | #34,165 |
| 2009 | modern | 52 | #34,544 |
| 2010 | modern | 59 | #34,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 52 | #34,688 |
| 2012 | modern | 50 | #34,814 |
| 2013 | modern | 55 | #34,628 |
| 2014 | modern | 52 | #34,803 |
| 2015 | modern | 55 | #34,620 |
| 2016 | modern | 53 | #34,727 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ecclesfield, Willesden, Tunbridge, Bidborough, Gateshead and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ecclesfield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | Willesden | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 3 | Tunbridge, Bidborough | Kent |
| 4 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Barder surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Barder, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Barder surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Barder household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Barder is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Barder is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Barder, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Barder is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "baerder," which referred to a person who made or carried a bard, a type of leather protective covering worn by soldiers and knights in battle.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Barder can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from the year 1196, where a person named Richard le Barder is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 12th century in this region of central England.
In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a record of landowners and tenants in various English counties, there are several entries for individuals with the surname Barder or variations such as Bardour and Bardere. These include John le Bardere in Oxfordshire and William le Bardour in Berkshire.
The Barder surname is also found in various medieval manorial records and tax rolls from different parts of England, indicating its widespread presence across the country during this time. For example, the Manor Court Rolls of Downham in Norfolk from the 14th century mention a Thomas Barder.
One notable early bearer of the Barder surname was Sir John Barder, a knight who served in the army of King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War with France in the mid-14th century. He fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Crécy in 1346.
Another individual with this surname was Robert Barder, a merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 15th century. Records show that he was a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers, one of the oldest livery companies in the city.
In the 16th century, there are records of a family named Barder residing in the village of Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire. One member of this family, Thomas Barder (c. 1540-1608), was a prominent wool merchant and benefactor who helped fund the construction of a market hall and other buildings in the village.
Throughout the centuries, variations in the spelling of the Barder surname have been found, such as Bardar, Bardour, Bardere, and Bardor. These variations likely arose due to the inconsistent spelling practices of the time and the influence of regional dialects and accents.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barder surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 11 Barders recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.23x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 11 | 2.23x |
| Lancashire | 9 | 1.53x |
| Surrey | 9 | 3.71x |
| Monmouthshire | 8 | 22.25x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.80x |
| Hertfordshire | 2 | 5.84x |
| Kent | 2 | 1.18x |
| Oxfordshire | 2 | 6.51x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 1.28x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.02x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 1.49x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 2.27x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bradfield in Yorkshire leads with 11 Barders recorded in 1881 and an index of 578.95x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bradfield | 11 | 578.95x |
| Newport | 8 | 467.84x |
| Bermondsey | 5 | 33.78x |
| Cheetham | 5 | 113.64x |
| Lambeth | 4 | 9.23x |
| Great Amwell | 2 | 588.24x |
| Hammersmith London | 2 | 16.33x |
| Hougham | 2 | 198.02x |
| Moss Side | 2 | 64.52x |
| Oxford St Thomas | 2 | 139.86x |
| Felstead | 1 | 294.12x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 3.59x |
| Hulme | 1 | 8.12x |
| Litchurch | 1 | 31.95x |
| Ludgershall | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 1 | 9.45x |
| Nuthall | 1 | 400.00x |
| Oldham | 1 | 5.25x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Barder surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Barder surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Barder households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| General Servant | 2 |
| Spring Knife Cutler Son No Oc | 2 |
| Cotton Operative | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Fancy Goods Textile Dealer | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Gardner | 1 |
| Governess (Sch Mis) | 1 |
| Ironmonger | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Master Tailor (Employg 13 Women & 7 Men) | 1 |
| Railway Engine Driver | 1 |
| Railway Servant | 1 |
| Spring Knife Cutler | 1 |
| Traveller | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 51 people were recorded with the Barder surname. That placed it at #26,428 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 53 in 2016. That gives Barder a modern rank of #34,727.
A surname derived from the Old French term "bardeur" meaning a person who packed bales of goods.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Barder bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.