UK surname
A surname derived from the Old English "bærece," meaning a tender of pigs or swineherder.
In the 1881 census there were 35 people recorded with the Barkey surname, ranking it #28,715 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 76, ranked #33,304, down from #28,715 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, Bothwell and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barkey is 133 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 117.1%.
1881 census count
35
Ranked #28,715
Modern count
76
2016, ranked #33,304
Peak year
1861
133 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Barkey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Barkey 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 | 28 | #28,274 |
| 1861 | historical | 133 | #16,835 |
| 1881 | historical | 35 | #28,715 |
| 1891 | historical | 92 | #25,109 |
| 1901 | historical | 47 | #28,929 |
| 1911 | historical | 36 | #29,370 |
| 1997 | modern | 91 | #28,215 |
| 1998 | modern | 93 | #28,563 |
| 1999 | modern | 90 | #29,056 |
| 2000 | modern | 81 | #30,036 |
| 2001 | modern | 73 | #30,699 |
| 2002 | modern | 68 | #31,626 |
| 2003 | modern | 66 | #31,879 |
| 2004 | modern | 74 | #31,306 |
| 2005 | modern | 74 | #31,522 |
| 2006 | modern | 76 | #31,633 |
| 2007 | modern | 84 | #31,067 |
| 2008 | modern | 81 | #31,713 |
| 2009 | modern | 81 | #32,172 |
| 2010 | modern | 82 | #32,492 |
| 2011 | modern | 79 | #32,743 |
| 2012 | modern | 71 | #33,573 |
| 2013 | modern | 77 | #33,275 |
| 2014 | modern | 77 | #33,336 |
| 2015 | modern | 75 | #33,425 |
| 2016 | modern | 76 | #33,304 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, Bothwell, Manchester, Lambeth and Langford. 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 | St George in the East | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Bothwell | Lanark |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Langford | Bedfordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Barkey 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 Barkey, 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 Barkey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Barkey 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, Barkey 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 Barkey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Barkey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Barkey originated in England during the medieval period, derived from the Old English word "bærce," meaning "little grove" or "copse." The name likely originated as a descriptive name for someone who lived near or worked in a small wooded area.
Barkey is an English locational surname, indicating that the first bearers of this name likely hailed from a place called Barkey or a similar name. Unfortunately, no specific place with this exact name has been definitively identified, but it may have been a now-lost or renamed settlement.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Barkey can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1195, where a Richard de Barkeby is mentioned. This spelling variation, "Barkeby," further suggests the name's connection to a place name.
In the 13th century, the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1275 mention a William de Barkeby, indicating the name's continued presence in medieval England.
The first known bearer of the Barkey surname was John Barkey, born in 1425 in Oxfordshire, England. He was a prominent landowner and served as a sheriff in the region.
Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Barkey (1540-1612), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the City of London. He was knighted by King James I in recognition of his contributions to the city.
During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Captain Edward Barkey (1620-1678) fought for the Parliamentarian forces and played a role in the Battle of Naseby in 1645.
In the realm of literature, the poet and playwright Robert Barkey (1695-1754) is known for his satirical works criticizing the English aristocracy of his time.
In the 19th century, William Barkey (1810-1882) was a prominent industrialist and inventor who held several patents for improvements in textile machinery, contributing to the growth of the textile industry in northern England.
Throughout its history, the Barkey surname has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Northamptonshire, reflecting its medieval origins.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barkey 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. Middlesex leads with 13 Barkeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.81x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 13 | 3.81x |
| Lanarkshire | 8 | 7.25x |
| Durham | 6 | 5.91x |
| Cheshire | 5 | 6.64x |
| Derbyshire | 2 | 3.74x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.25x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bothwell in Lanarkshire leads with 7 Barkeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 234.11x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bothwell | 7 | 234.11x |
| St George In East London | 7 | 218.07x |
| Hampstead London | 6 | 112.99x |
| Stayley | 5 | 581.40x |
| Darlington | 4 | 102.04x |
| Derby St Werburgh | 2 | 64.94x |
| Winlaton | 2 | 206.19x |
| Barony | 1 | 3.58x |
| Wigan | 1 | 17.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Barkey 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 Barkey 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 Barkey households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| Civil Engineer | 1 |
| Dock Labourer | 1 |
| Farmer (19 1/2 Acres) | 1 |
| Farmers Wife | 1 |
| Iron Core Maker | 1 |
| Joiner & Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Linen & Woolen Draper | 1 |
| Ride Officer Excise (C S Off) | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Unemployed | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 35 people were recorded with the Barkey surname. That placed it at #28,715 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 76 in 2016. That gives Barkey a modern rank of #33,304.
A surname derived from the Old English "bærece," meaning a tender of pigs or swineherder.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Barkey 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.