UK surname
Of French origin referring to boat operators or dockhands.
In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Barges surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8, ranked #37,829, down from #32,765 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Sywell and Amesbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barges is 120 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.3%.
1881 census count
7
Ranked #32,765
Modern count
8
2016, ranked #37,829
Peak year
1861
120 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Barges surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Barges surname density by area, 1861 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 | 57 | #23,092 |
| 1861 | historical | 120 | #18,255 |
| 1881 | historical | 7 | #32,765 |
| 1891 | historical | 23 | #32,389 |
| 1901 | historical | 12 | #32,772 |
| 1911 | historical | 4 | #33,595 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 7 | #37,581 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 6 | #37,883 |
| 2009 | modern | 7 | #37,816 |
| 2010 | modern | 9 | #37,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 9 | #37,614 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 8 | #37,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Sywell, Amesbury, Terrington St Clement, Terrington St John and Caundle Purse. 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 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Sywell | Northamptonshire |
| 3 | Amesbury | Wiltshire |
| 4 | Terrington St Clement, Terrington St John | Cambridgeshire |
| 5 | Caundle Purse | Dorset |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Barges 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 Barges, 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 Barges surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Barges 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, Barges 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 Barges is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Barges, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "BARGES" is believed to have originated in France during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "barge," which referred to a type of flat-bottomed boat or barge used for transportation on rivers and canals. This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals involved in the operation or ownership of such vessels.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the 13th century, when a certain Guillelmus Barges was mentioned in a document from the region of Normandy. The name was also found in various tax records and legal documents from the 14th and 15th centuries in different parts of northern France, including the cities of Rouen and Paris.
During the late 15th century, the name Barges was documented in the town of Barges-sur-Cisse, located in the Loire Valley region of central France. This place name, which likely originated from the Old French word "barge," may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in that area.
Notable individuals with the surname Barges include Jacques Barges (1593-1670), a French mathematician and astronomer who contributed to the development of the Gregorian calendar. Another prominent figure was Pierre Barges (1619-1692), a French Catholic theologian and author who served as the Bishop of Glandèves.
In the 18th century, Jean-Baptiste Barges (1732-1811) was a French politician and lawyer who played a significant role in the early years of the French Revolution. He served as the president of the National Constituent Assembly in 1790.
Moving into the 19th century, Joseph Hippolyte Barges (1804-1869) was a French archaeologist and explorer who conducted excavations and research in Egypt and the Middle East. His work contributed to the understanding of ancient civilizations in those regions.
Finally, one of the more recent notable individuals with the surname Barges was Henri Barges (1912-1991), a French author and journalist who wrote several novels and works of non-fiction, including a biography of the philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barges 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. Hampshire leads with 5 Barges' recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.84x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hampshire | 5 | 35.84x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 1.24x |
| Surrey | 1 | 3.01x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southampton St Mary in Hampshire leads with 5 Barges' recorded in 1881 and an index of 568.18x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Southampton St Mary | 5 | 568.18x |
| Birkdale | 1 | 500.00x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 22.99x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Barges 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 Barges 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 Barges households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| Asstnt To Travelling Oil Cart (man) | 1 |
| Genl Labr | 1 |
| House Property | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Barges surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 8 in 2016. That gives Barges a modern rank of #37,829.
Of French origin referring to boat operators or dockhands.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Barges 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.