UK surname
An Americanized spelling of the German surname Burkhardt or Burckhardt, meaning brave counsel.
In the 1881 census there were 46 people recorded with the Barkett surname, ranking it #27,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10, ranked #37,599, down from #27,188 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, Newchurch and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barkett is 749 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 78.3%.
1881 census count
46
Ranked #27,188
Modern count
10
2016, ranked #37,599
Peak year
1891
749 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Barkett surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Barkett surname density by area, 1911 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 | 134 | #14,033 |
| 1861 | historical | 742 | #3,675 |
| 1881 | historical | 46 | #27,188 |
| 1891 | historical | 749 | #5,317 |
| 1901 | historical | 141 | #18,718 |
| 1911 | historical | 207 | #14,635 |
| 1997 | modern | 3 | #38,317 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 3 | #38,334 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 6 | #38,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 7 | #37,909 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 8 | #37,797 |
| 2016 | modern | 10 | #37,599 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, Newchurch, St Pancras, Lambeth and Devonport Stoke Damerel. 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 | Edmonton | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 2 | Newchurch | Hampshire |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Devonport Stoke Damerel | Devon |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Barkett 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 Barkett, 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 Barkett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Barkett 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, Barkett 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 Barkett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Barkett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Barkett has its origins in England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "bær" meaning "bare" or "barren" and "hytt" meaning "hut" or "dwelling". This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived in a humble or sparsely furnished abode.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a John Barkyt is mentioned as residing in Oxfordshire. The spelling variations during this period included Barket, Barkyt, and Barkutt.
In the 14th century, the name appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, with entries for a William Barkett and a Robert Barket, both recorded in 1379.
The Barkett family seems to have had a presence in various regions of England, as evidenced by the mention of a John Barkett in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1401 and a Thomas Barkett in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1524.
Notable individuals bearing the surname Barkett include William Barkett (1592-1668), a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London, and Sir John Barkett (1677-1742), a respected jurist who served as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland from 1730 to 1741.
In the literary realm, the name appears in the works of William Shakespeare, with a character named "Master Barkett" mentioned in the play "The Merry Wives of Windsor".
Other historical figures include Elizabeth Barkett (1628-1689), a wealthy landowner and philanthropist in Gloucestershire, and Richard Barkett (1712-1788), a renowned architect who designed several notable churches and public buildings in the county of Essex.
While the Barkett surname may not be among the most common in England, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and can be traced back to its humble origins as a name associated with modest dwellings and the rural landscape of medieval Britain.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barkett 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. Surrey leads with 17 Barketts recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.61x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 17 | 7.61x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 1.96x |
| Worcestershire | 6 | 10.02x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 4.26x |
| Kent | 4 | 2.56x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.99x |
| Dorset | 1 | 3.32x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.73x |
| Isle of Man | 1 | 11.75x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.67x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.18x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.36x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 6 Barketts recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.50x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Islington London | 6 | 13.50x |
| Camberwell | 5 | 17.08x |
| Kidderminster Borough | 5 | 142.86x |
| Clapham | 4 | 69.81x |
| Lambeth | 4 | 10.01x |
| Christchurch | 3 | 147.06x |
| Tooting Graveney | 3 | 483.87x |
| Dover St Mary Virgin | 2 | 132.45x |
| Maidstone | 2 | 42.92x |
| Barony | 1 | 2.67x |
| Carisbrooke | 1 | 76.92x |
| Crewkerne | 1 | 128.21x |
| Croydon | 1 | 8.06x |
| Darlington | 1 | 19.01x |
| Godley | 1 | 454.55x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 14.01x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 3.92x |
| Leyland | 1 | 105.26x |
| Melcombe Regis | 1 | 80.00x |
| Onchan | 1 | 40.82x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 12.38x |
| Upperswinford | 1 | 196.08x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Barkett 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 Barkett 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 Barkett households.
FAQ
In 1881, 46 people were recorded with the Barkett surname. That placed it at #27,188 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 10 in 2016. That gives Barkett a modern rank of #37,599.
An Americanized spelling of the German surname Burkhardt or Burckhardt, meaning brave counsel.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Barkett 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.