NameCensus.

UK surname

Barling

A locational surname derived from a former place, likely in Essex or Lincolnshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 439 people recorded with the Barling surname, ranking it #7,455 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 289, ranked #15,137, down from #7,455 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Minster, Warehorne, Orlestone and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swale, Maidstone and Bath and North East Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barling is 493 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 34.2%.

1881 census count

439

Ranked #7,455

Modern count

289

2016, ranked #15,137

Peak year

1901

493 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Barling had 439 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,455 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 289 in 2016, ranked #15,137.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 493 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Barling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barling surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barling 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 290 #7,844
1861 historical 376 #6,792
1881 historical 439 #7,455
1891 historical 462 #7,917
1901 historical 493 #8,133
1911 historical 492 #7,913
1997 modern 337 #12,522
1998 modern 352 #12,489
1999 modern 349 #12,638
2000 modern 353 #12,480
2001 modern 343 #12,545
2002 modern 343 #12,803
2003 modern 333 #12,875
2004 modern 321 #13,284
2005 modern 309 #13,552
2006 modern 311 #13,577
2007 modern 313 #13,648
2008 modern 316 #13,661
2009 modern 308 #14,161
2010 modern 316 #14,198
2011 modern 300 #14,591
2012 modern 298 #14,565
2013 modern 302 #14,690
2014 modern 305 #14,678
2015 modern 296 #14,893
2016 modern 289 #15,137

Geography

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Where Barlings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Minster, Warehorne, Orlestone, London parishes, St Pancras and Ashford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swale, Maidstone, Bath and North East Somerset, Teignbridge and Lewes. 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 Minster Kent
2 Warehorne, Orlestone Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Ashford Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swale 008 Swale
2 Maidstone 011 Maidstone
3 Bath and North East Somerset 003 Bath and North East Somerset
4 Teignbridge 008 Teignbridge
5 Lewes 001 Lewes

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barling

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barling

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Barling surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Barling household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Barling is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Barling is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Barling falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Barling 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 Barling, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Barling

The surname Barling is an English name believed to have originated in the East Anglian region of England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational surname derived from the placename Barling, a village located in the county of Essex. The name Barling is derived from the Old English words "bær" meaning "barley" and "inga" meaning "people", suggesting the name may have referred to people living in or near a barley field or area known for barley cultivation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Barling can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Barlinga". This historical record provides evidence that the surname was well-established in England by the late 11th century. The name also appears in various early medieval records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where it is spelled "Barlinge".

Notable individuals with the surname Barling include Robert Barling, a prominent merchant and landowner in Colchester, Essex, during the 15th century. Another individual of note is Thomas Barling, born in 1607 in Loughton, Essex, who was one of the early Puritan settlers of New England, arriving in Massachusetts in 1635.

In the 18th century, John Barling (1726-1798) was a renowned clockmaker and watchmaker from Ashbourne, Derbyshire, who is renowned for his intricate and highly accurate timepieces. Another significant figure was Richard Barling (1784-1854), a British naval officer who served with distinction during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Barling was Sir Walter Barling (1858-1939), a pioneering British surgeon and medical author who made significant contributions to the field of orthopaedics. He was knighted in 1922 for his services to medicine and is remembered for his innovative surgical techniques and influential textbooks on orthopaedic surgery.

While the surname Barling is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history that can be traced back to its English roots in the medieval period. The name's association with barley cultivation and its presence in historical records such as the Domesday Book highlight its longstanding presence in the region and its enduring legacy as a distinctive English surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Barling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barling 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. Kent leads with 160 Barlings recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.80x.

County Total Index
Kent 160 10.80x
Middlesex 115 2.65x
Surrey 35 1.65x
Sussex 24 3.28x
Oxfordshire 21 7.83x
Herefordshire 17 9.55x
Gloucestershire 16 1.88x
Warwickshire 8 0.73x
Hampshire 7 0.79x
Channel Islands 6 4.66x
Yorkshire 6 0.14x
Cheshire 4 0.42x
Somerset 4 0.57x
Cardiganshire 3 2.83x
Cumberland 3 0.80x
Essex 3 0.35x
Northamptonshire 2 0.49x
Radnorshire 2 5.71x
Berkshire 1 0.31x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.36x
Devon 1 0.11x
Glamorgan 1 0.13x
Hertfordshire 1 0.33x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Lincolnshire 1 0.14x
Midlothian 1 0.17x
Worcestershire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 24 Barlings recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.87x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 24 6.87x
Ashford 17 117.89x
Shoreditch London 17 9.03x
Thame 16 327.87x
Hackney London 13 5.34x
Kensington London 13 5.39x
Minster In Sheppey 12 48.90x
Farnham 10 60.79x
Lynsted 10 520.83x
Poplar London 10 12.21x
Staplehurst 9 370.37x
Whitstable 9 123.97x
Folkestone 8 27.85x
Maidstone 8 18.13x
Warehorne 8 1012.66x
Bethnal Green London 7 3.71x
Chatham 7 17.18x
Eastington 7 248.23x
Hammersmith London 7 6.55x
Hastings St Mary In The 7 44.84x
Ruckinge 7 1186.44x
Aldington 6 600.00x
Bilsington 6 1052.63x
Dover St Mary Virgin 6 41.87x
Faversham 6 42.49x
Hereford St Nicholas 6 247.93x
Holmer 6 186.92x
Islington London 6 1.43x
Lambeth 6 1.59x
Lingfield 6 145.63x
Newington 6 3.74x
Preston Next Faversham 6 172.41x
St Helier 6 14.33x
Westminster St James 6 13.45x
Guestling 5 420.17x
Ross 5 70.62x
Aston 4 1.33x
Cowley 4 47.79x
Edmonton 4 11.44x
Frindsbury 4 71.68x
Leeds 4 1.65x
New Romney 4 263.16x
Newnham 4 182.65x
Salehurst 4 126.18x
St Marylebone London 4 1.73x
Aberystwith 3 32.93x
Birmingham 3 0.82x
Brighton 3 2.03x
Caldewgate 3 14.65x
Great Clacton 3 102.74x
Lenham 3 101.35x
Lyminge 3 236.22x
Newchurch 3 625.00x
Southampton St Mary 3 5.36x
Westbury On Severn 3 89.02x
Willesborough 3 75.38x
Winchelsea St Thomas 3 329.67x
Bermondsey 2 1.55x
Boughton Under Blean 2 80.65x
Bromley London 2 2.09x
Burnham 2 37.52x
Chelsham 2 298.51x
Langport 2 606.06x
Luddenham 2 571.43x
Old Radnor Evenjobb 2 425.53x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 2 18.15x
Ramsgate 2 8.27x
Stowting 2 625.00x
Upton In Chester 2 186.92x
Billingshurst 1 41.67x
Brookland 1 153.85x
Burton Latimer 1 40.49x
Clerkenwell London 1 0.98x
Clewer 1 7.49x
Northampton St Sepulchre 1 4.81x
Plumstead 1 2.03x
Rochester St Margaret 1 6.40x
Salwarpe 1 156.25x
St George In East London 1 2.45x
Tormoham 1 2.62x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 22
John 19
James 17
Charles 14
George 14
Alfred 11
Thomas 11
Henry 10
Frederick 6
Arthur 5
Robert 5
Frank 4
Harry 4
Albert 3
Edward 3
Philip 3
Bates 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Jabez 2
Jas. 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Archibald 1
Arther 1
Banks 1
Benjamin 1
Bernard 1
Carlo 1
Edwd. 1
F. 1
Frances 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Hezekial 1
Isaas 1
Ivon 1
Joseph 1
Lester 1
Nathan 1
Nathanael 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1
Wyndlar 1

FAQ

Barling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Barling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 439 people were recorded with the Barling surname. That placed it at #7,455 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Barling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 289 in 2016. That gives Barling a modern rank of #15,137.

What does the Barling surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a former place, likely in Essex or Lincolnshire, England.

What does the Barling map show?

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