NameCensus.

UK surname

Barna

Hungarian habitational surname referring to someone from a place called Barnaháza, meaning "Barna's house."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire West and Chester, County Durham and New Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barna is 128 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

128

2016, ranked #26,401

Peak year

2016

128 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016, ranked #26,401.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Barna surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barna surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barna 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
1861 historical 9 #32,724
1891 historical 9 #33,451
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 34 #34,282
1998 modern 36 #34,246
1999 modern 38 #34,142
2000 modern 38 #34,146
2001 modern 37 #34,082
2002 modern 35 #34,554
2003 modern 31 #34,957
2004 modern 36 #34,717
2005 modern 42 #34,395
2006 modern 51 #33,992
2007 modern 59 #33,634
2008 modern 63 #33,498
2009 modern 68 #33,341
2010 modern 80 #32,670
2011 modern 80 #32,652
2012 modern 104 #29,543
2013 modern 104 #30,076
2014 modern 112 #28,934
2015 modern 114 #28,478
2016 modern 128 #26,401

Geography

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Where Barnas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire West and Chester, County Durham, New Forest, South Holland and Bolton. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire West and Chester 015 Cheshire West and Chester
2 County Durham 007 County Durham
3 New Forest 007 New Forest
4 South Holland 005 South Holland
5 Bolton 022 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barna

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barna

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Barna surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Barna 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Barna is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Barna 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

Barna falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Barna is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Barna

The surname Barna has its origins in Hungary, dating back to the 10th century. It is derived from the Hungarian word "barna," which means "brown" or "dark-haired." This suggests that the name was initially used as a descriptive nickname for individuals with dark hair or complexions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Barna surname can be found in the Váradi Regestrum, a medieval register of legal proceedings from the Bishopric of Várad (now Oradea, Romania), dating back to the late 12th and early 13th centuries. This document contains references to individuals with the surname Barna.

In the 14th century, the Barna name appeared in various records and manuscripts across Hungary, indicating its widespread use during this period. For example, a nobleman named Barna de Zapolya was mentioned in documents from the reign of King Charles I of Hungary (1288-1342).

The name Barna has also been associated with several notable historical figures. One of the earliest was Barna de Szecsöd (c. 1280-1349), a Hungarian nobleman and military commander who served under King Charles I and played a crucial role in the Battle of Rozgony against the Bohemian forces in 1312.

Another prominent figure was Barna Cseh (1445-1508), a Hungarian Renaissance humanist, diplomat, and historian. He served as the ambassador of King Matthias Corvinus to the Holy Roman Empire and wrote several historical works, including a chronicle of Hungarian history.

In the 16th century, the Barna surname was linked to the village of Barna in Pest County (now part of Budapest), suggesting a possible connection between the name and this geographic location.

The 17th century saw the rise of Barna György (1588-1639), a Hungarian Calvinist preacher and theologian who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation in Hungary. He was known for his writings and sermons, which helped spread the Reformed teachings throughout the country.

In the 19th century, the composer and pianist Barna Mihály (1844-1913) gained recognition for his contributions to Hungarian classical music. He composed numerous works, including operas, symphonies, and chamber pieces, and served as the director of the Budapest Philharmonic Society.

These examples demonstrate the long history and diversity of the Barna surname, which has been present in Hungary and other parts of Central Europe for several centuries, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions to various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Barna surname: questions and answers

How common is the Barna surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016. That gives Barna a modern rank of #26,401.

What does the Barna surname mean?

Hungarian habitational surname referring to someone from a place called Barnaháza, meaning "Barna's house."

What does the Barna map show?

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