NameCensus.

UK surname

Barlett

A surname possibly derived from the Old English words "bær" meaning bear and "lēah" meaning meadow or clearing.

In the 1881 census there were 131 people recorded with the Barlett surname, ranking it #16,824 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 63, ranked #34,163, down from #16,824 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Poole St James and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Dorset, Derbyshire Dales and Wycombe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barlett is 457 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 51.9%.

1881 census count

131

Ranked #16,824

Modern count

63

2016, ranked #34,163

Peak year

1911

457 bearers

Map years

6

1861 to 1998

Key insights

  • Barlett had 131 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,824 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 63 in 2016, ranked #34,163.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 457 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Barlett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barlett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barlett 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 80 #19,558
1861 historical 373 #6,841
1881 historical 131 #16,824
1891 historical 397 #8,927
1901 historical 105 #22,179
1911 historical 457 #8,397
1997 modern 333 #12,615
1998 modern 308 #13,661
1999 modern 348 #12,670
2000 modern 268 #15,018
2001 modern 85 #29,396
2002 modern 102 #27,596
2003 modern 91 #29,121
2004 modern 79 #30,799
2005 modern 73 #31,616
2006 modern 76 #31,633
2007 modern 83 #31,183
2008 modern 81 #31,713
2009 modern 96 #30,239
2010 modern 93 #31,239
2011 modern 96 #30,721
2012 modern 73 #33,431
2013 modern 76 #33,329
2014 modern 72 #33,647
2015 modern 64 #34,112
2016 modern 63 #34,163

Geography

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Where Barletts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Poole St James, London parishes, St Pancras and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Dorset, Derbyshire Dales, Wycombe, Mole Valley and Wiltshire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Poole St James Dorset
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Dorset 004 North Dorset
2 Derbyshire Dales 002 Derbyshire Dales
3 Wycombe 006 Wycombe
4 Mole Valley 001 Mole Valley
5 Wiltshire 033 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barlett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barlett

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Barlett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Barlett 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Barlett is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Barlett is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Barlett falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Barlett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Barlett

The surname Barlett originated in England, deriving from the Old English words 'bere' meaning grain and 'leet' meaning a pasture or meadow. It was an occupational name given to someone who worked in the barley fields or barley meadows.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled 'Berlet'. This suggests the name had already established itself in parts of England by the late 11th century.

Over time, the name evolved in its spelling, with variations like Barlet, Berlett, and Barlett emerging in different regions. These changes often reflected local dialects and accents.

In the 13th century, records show a Richard Barlet residing in Oxfordshire. A century later, a John Barlett was documented in Somerset in the tax records of 1327.

The name also has ties to place names. For instance, the village of Barlett in Gloucestershire may have derived its name from an early bearer of the surname who lived or worked there.

Notable individuals throughout history with this surname include John Barlett (1692-1770), an English lexicographer and teacher who published a popular dictionary. Another was Joseph Barlett (1762-1827), an American Revolutionary War soldier and early settler of Ohio.

In the literary world, John Barlett (1839-1923), an American publisher, is remembered for compiling Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, a widely-used reference book of famous sayings and passages.

William Barlett (1856-1930) was a British botanist and explorer who made significant contributions to the study of plant life in New Zealand and the South Pacific.

More recently, Charles Barlett (1931-2015) was an American journalist and author known for his investigative reporting on political corruption and government scandals.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals who have carried the Barlett surname throughout history, reflecting its long-standing presence in various parts of the English-speaking world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Barlett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barlett 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. Surrey leads with 13 Barletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.09x.

County Total Index
Surrey 13 2.09x
Middlesex 12 0.94x
Northamptonshire 12 9.98x
Hampshire 11 4.20x
Hertfordshire 9 10.22x
Cumberland 8 7.27x
Oxfordshire 8 10.14x
Berkshire 7 7.30x
Staffordshire 6 1.39x
Carmarthenshire 5 9.28x
Cornwall 5 3.46x
Gloucestershire 4 1.60x
Kent 4 0.92x
Devon 3 1.13x
Glamorgan 3 1.35x
Lancashire 3 0.20x
Buckinghamshire 2 2.59x
Dorset 2 2.38x
Durham 2 0.53x
Northumberland 2 1.05x
Somerset 2 0.97x
Warwickshire 2 0.62x
Cheshire 1 0.35x
Essex 1 0.40x
Lincolnshire 1 0.49x
Shropshire 1 0.91x
Wiltshire 1 0.88x
Yorkshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Broxbourne in Hertfordshire leads with 9 Barletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 514.29x.

Place Total Index
Broxbourne 9 514.29x
Arlecdon 8 273.04x
Newington 8 16.95x
Radstone 7 14000.00x
Ryde 7 124.33x
Bloxham 6 779.22x
Paddington London 6 12.77x
Shinfield 6 1071.43x
Teddesley Hay 6 10000.00x
Brackley St James 5 1785.71x
Llangan East 5 2000.00x
St Stephen 5 980.39x
Bristol St Paul In 3 44.91x
Leckwith 3 576.92x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 11.67x
West Derby 3 6.76x
Aston 2 2.25x
Bishopwearmouth 2 6.13x
Crewkerne 2 91.74x
Deptford St Paul 2 5.95x
Fulmer 2 1052.63x
St George Hanover Square 2 8.88x
Sutcombe 2 1111.11x
Ashton Keynes 1 238.10x
Atcham 1 555.56x
Avening 1 112.36x
Beckenham 1 17.54x
Boldre 1 106.38x
Camberwell 1 1.23x
Enfield 1 11.93x
Islington London 1 0.81x
Kidlington 1 163.93x
Lambeth 1 0.90x
Lytchett Minster 1 270.27x
Millbrook 1 15.15x
North Shields 1 26.39x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 4.88x
Romsey Extra 1 64.10x
Sedburgh 1 188.68x
Shalbourn 1 277.78x
Sherfield English 1 833.33x
South Weald 1 46.30x
St Anne Soho London 1 13.70x
St Lawrence 1 33.33x
St Marylebone London 1 1.47x
St Michael Lincoln 1 181.82x
Stockport 1 6.89x
Swerford 1 555.56x
Tynemouth 1 9.82x
Wareham St Martin 1 312.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 6
Annie 4
Edith 4
Fanny 3
Jane 3
Sarah 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Ann 2
Charlotte 2
Emily 2
Louisa 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Eliza 1
Elizabth 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Emmanuel 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Leonora 1
Louisia 1
Lucy 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
May 1
Mercy 1
Nellie 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1
Sopphie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
Thomas 6
William 6
Edward 5
Henry 5
George 3
Alfred 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Alex.F. 1
Arthur 1
Bryant 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Giles 1
Joseph 1
Lewis 1
Pemberton 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Sydney 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Barlett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Barlett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 131 people were recorded with the Barlett surname. That placed it at #16,824 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Barlett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 63 in 2016. That gives Barlett a modern rank of #34,163.

What does the Barlett surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from the Old English words "bær" meaning bear and "lēah" meaning meadow or clearing.

What does the Barlett map show?

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