NameCensus.

UK surname

Barn

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a barn.

In the 1881 census there were 132 people recorded with the Barn surname, ranking it #16,744 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 203, ranked #19,396, down from #16,744 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Markinch, Mirfield and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wolverhampton, Cardenden and Redbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barn is 566 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.8%.

1881 census count

132

Ranked #16,744

Modern count

203

2016, ranked #19,396

Peak year

1861

566 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Barn had 132 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,744 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 203 in 2016, ranked #19,396.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 566 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Barn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barn surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barn 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 221 #9,630
1861 historical 566 #4,646
1881 historical 132 #16,744
1891 historical 282 #11,597
1901 historical 114 #21,166
1911 historical 77 #25,106
1997 modern 135 #22,499
1998 modern 153 #21,387
1999 modern 139 #22,884
2000 modern 138 #22,960
2001 modern 137 #22,740
2002 modern 131 #23,793
2003 modern 123 #24,497
2004 modern 124 #24,559
2005 modern 125 #24,398
2006 modern 137 #23,270
2007 modern 149 #22,318
2008 modern 157 #21,766
2009 modern 167 #21,383
2010 modern 170 #21,560
2011 modern 163 #21,983
2012 modern 168 #21,516
2013 modern 178 #21,108
2014 modern 184 #20,809
2015 modern 189 #20,345
2016 modern 203 #19,396

Geography

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Where Barns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Markinch, Mirfield, Edinburgh, Manchester and Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wolverhampton, Cardenden, Redbridge and Hounslow. 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 Markinch Fife
2 Mirfield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wolverhampton 020 Wolverhampton
2 Cardenden Fife
3 Redbridge 034 Redbridge
4 Redbridge 031 Redbridge
5 Hounslow 013 Hounslow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barn

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Barn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Barn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Barn is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Barn is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Barn falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Barn 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
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Barn

The surname "BARN" is of English origin and dates back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "bær" or "bere," which means "barley." This suggests that the name may have originally been associated with someone who worked with or cultivated barley crops.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where a person named William Barn was listed. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 mention a John le Barne, indicating a possible connection to a place name or occupation related to barns or granaries.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property compiled in 1086 during the reign of William the Conqueror, does not appear to contain any direct references to the surname "BARN." However, it does list several places with names derived from the Old English word "bere," such as Berton (Barton) and Berwic (Berwick), which may have influenced the development of the surname over time.

One notable historical figure with the surname "BARN" was John Barn, a 15th-century English merchant and Member of Parliament for Rye in 1450. Another was Thomas Barn, a 16th-century Anglican clergyman who served as the Bishop of Lipari in Sicily from 1566 to 1591.

In the literary world, the name is associated with Joseph Barn, an English poet born in 1680 who published several works, including "The Poetical Works of Joseph Barn" in 1720. Additionally, there was a John Barn, a 17th-century English author who wrote a book titled "The Countess of Morton's Lamentable Tragedy" in 1660.

Another notable figure was Sir William Barn, a 19th-century British military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and was awarded the prestigious Order of the Bath in 1815 for his distinguished service.

While the surname "BARN" may have originated from humble beginnings related to agriculture and rural life, it has since been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, clergymen, authors, and military officers, reflecting the diverse paths taken by those bearing this name throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Barn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barn 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. Fife leads with 37 Barns recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.29x.

County Total Index
Fife 37 49.29x
Northumberland 16 8.48x
Middlesex 14 1.10x
Cheshire 10 3.57x
Norfolk 9 4.62x
Midlothian 8 4.71x
Lancashire 6 0.40x
Kent 5 1.16x
Surrey 5 0.81x
Devon 4 1.52x
Lanarkshire 4 0.98x
Warwickshire 3 0.94x
Glamorgan 2 0.91x
Hertfordshire 1 1.14x
Kinross-shire 1 31.15x
Monmouthshire 1 1.09x
Northamptonshire 1 0.84x
Renfrewshire 1 1.02x
Westmorland 1 3.59x
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. Kirkcaldy in Fife leads with 22 Barns recorded in 1881 and an index of 591.40x.

Place Total Index
Kirkcaldy 22 591.40x
Allendale 11 628.57x
Edinburgh Greenside 8 357.14x
Markinch 8 313.73x
Congleton 7 144.63x
Norwich St Paul 6 512.82x
Auchtermuchty 4 396.04x
St Pancras London 4 3.92x
Brinnington 3 114.94x
Everton 3 6.26x
Greenwich 3 14.87x
Kinghorn 3 188.68x
Old Monkland 3 18.44x
Poplar London 3 12.54x
Bedlington 2 31.75x
Bow London 2 12.39x
Exeter St Sidwell 2 33.11x
Lambeth 2 1.81x
Mason 2 465.12x
St John Near Swansea 2 73.26x
Aston 1 1.14x
Bletchingley 1 123.46x
Caerleon 1 208.33x
Casterton 1 400.00x
Chelsea London 1 2.62x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 4.18x
Deptford St Paul 1 3.00x
Edmonton 1 9.78x
Govan 1 0.99x
Great Amwell 1 113.64x
Great Yarmouth 1 6.19x
Hatherleigh 1 151.52x
Kensington London 1 1.42x
Kirk Sandall 1 1000.00x
Lillington 1 243.90x
Liverpool 1 1.09x
Morpeth 1 45.05x
Newington 1 2.13x
Norwich St Margaret 1 333.33x
Orwell 1 113.64x
Paddington London 1 2.15x
Peterborough 1 11.59x
Plymouth Charles The 1 8.60x
Ramsgate 1 14.16x
Snettisham 1 185.19x
Solihull 1 43.48x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 3.92x
St Luke London 1 4.92x
West Derby 1 2.27x
West Greenock 1 5.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 5
Harriet 3
Sarah 3
Catherine 2
Elisabeth 2
Emily 2
Margaret 2
Amy 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Blanche 1
Charlotte 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
M.E. 1
Marg. 1
Matilda 1
Mildred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 5
George 3
John 3
Thomas 3
Charles 2
Adam 1
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Austin 1
Edgar 1
Edward 1
Henry 1
James 1
Joe 1
Josiah 1
Oune 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Stockar 1

FAQ

Barn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Barn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 132 people were recorded with the Barn surname. That placed it at #16,744 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Barn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 203 in 2016. That gives Barn a modern rank of #19,396.

What does the Barn surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a barn.

What does the Barn map show?

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