UK surname
An English surname possibly derived from a Middle English place name.
In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Barmes surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16, ranked #36,998, down from #31,019 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hemblington, Bingley and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barmes is 195 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 11.1%.
1881 census count
18
Ranked #31,019
Modern count
16
2016, ranked #36,998
Peak year
1891
195 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Barmes surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Barmes surname density by area, 1891 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 | 16 | #30,441 |
| 1861 | historical | 182 | #12,949 |
| 1881 | historical | 18 | #31,019 |
| 1891 | historical | 195 | #15,211 |
| 1901 | historical | 6 | #33,591 |
| 1911 | historical | 15 | #31,938 |
| 1997 | modern | 15 | #36,409 |
| 1998 | modern | 11 | #36,908 |
| 1999 | modern | 11 | #36,917 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 7 | #37,293 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 10 | #37,180 |
| 2006 | modern | 13 | #36,902 |
| 2007 | modern | 12 | #37,095 |
| 2008 | modern | 13 | #37,056 |
| 2009 | modern | 10 | #37,446 |
| 2010 | modern | 12 | #37,307 |
| 2011 | modern | 11 | #37,397 |
| 2012 | modern | 13 | #37,169 |
| 2013 | modern | 16 | #36,955 |
| 2014 | modern | 16 | #36,974 |
| 2015 | modern | 14 | #37,157 |
| 2016 | modern | 16 | #36,998 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hemblington, Bingley, St Pancras, Wigan and Battersea. 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 | Hemblington | Norfolk |
| 2 | Bingley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| 5 | Battersea | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Barmes 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 Barmes, 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 Barmes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Barmes 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, Barmes 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 Barmes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Barmes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BARMES is of English origin, traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "bær" meaning "bare" and "mæsse" meaning "mass," possibly referring to a person who attended mass without shoes or socks.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where it is spelled "Barmes." This suggests that the name was already established in various parts of England by the late 12th century.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in the Assize Court Rolls of Yorkshire as "Barmys," indicating a slight variation in spelling. This version of the name may have been influenced by the Old Norse word "barmr," meaning "breast" or "bosom."
During the 14th century, the name BARMES was found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, recorded as "Barmesse." This spelling variation could be linked to the nearby town of Barmes Green, which was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Barmesse."
One notable bearer of the name was Robert BARMES, a merchant from Bristol who lived in the late 15th century. He is mentioned in several historical records from that time, including the Port Books of Bristol from 1479.
In the 16th century, the name BARMES appeared in the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Beverley, Yorkshire, where a certain Thomas BARMES was recorded as having been baptized in 1587.
Another prominent figure with this surname was William BARMES, a wealthy landowner from Gloucestershire who lived in the late 17th century. He is known for his contribution to the construction of the Barmes Almshouses in Cirencester, which still stand today.
In the 18th century, the BARMES name was found in various parts of England, including Lancashire and Derbyshire. One notable bearer was John BARMES (1714-1789), a renowned clockmaker from Birmingham who crafted several intricate timepieces that are now considered masterpieces of British horology.
The 19th century saw the BARMES name spread further across England, with records showing families bearing this surname in counties such as Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, and Staffordshire. One notable figure from this period was Charles BARMES (1823-1899), a wealthy industrialist from Leeds who owned several textile mills.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barmes 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 10 Barmes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.69x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 10 | 11.69x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 1.14x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 1.15x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 6.61x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 3.27x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 2.90x |
| Sussex | 1 | 3.38x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southwark St George Martyr in Surrey leads with 9 Barmes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 254.96x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Southwark St George Martyr | 9 | 254.96x |
| St George In East London | 2 | 121.21x |
| Batley | 1 | 60.61x |
| Cheltenham | 1 | 37.59x |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 1 | 34.01x |
| Ovenden | 1 | 129.87x |
| Rye | 1 | 357.14x |
| Thursby | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Wotton | 1 | 2500.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Barmes 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 Barmes 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 Barmes households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Cigar Maker Work At Home | 4 |
| Domestic Servant | 2 |
| Scholar | 2 |
| A G lab | 1 |
| Charcoal Burner (Animal) | 1 |
| Cigar Manufacturer | 1 |
| Diamond Polisher | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Monthly Nurse | 1 |
| Retired Butler | 1 |
| Selling Barm | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Barmes surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 16 in 2016. That gives Barmes a modern rank of #36,998.
An English surname possibly derived from a Middle English place name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Barmes 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.