NameCensus.

UK surname

Barnard

An English occupational surname for a person who kept a barn or worked in one.

In the 1881 census there were 7,425 people recorded with the Barnard surname, ranking it #576 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9,591, ranked #667, down from #576 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Stowmarket and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, Bridgend and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barnard is 10,312 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.2%.

1881 census count

7,425

Ranked #576

Modern count

9,591

2016, ranked #667

Peak year

2000

10,312 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Barnard had 7,425 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #576 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 9,591 in 2016, ranked #667.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9,871 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Barnard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barnard surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barnard 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 5,087 #541
1861 historical 4,758 #593
1881 historical 7,425 #576
1891 historical 7,932 #558
1901 historical 9,226 #567
1911 historical 9,871 #497
1997 modern 9,889 #632
1998 modern 10,243 #629
1999 modern 10,294 #632
2000 modern 10,312 #625
2001 modern 10,078 #626
2002 modern 10,183 #637
2003 modern 9,938 #639
2004 modern 9,925 #637
2005 modern 9,740 #643
2006 modern 9,694 #645
2007 modern 9,637 #654
2008 modern 9,698 #655
2009 modern 9,826 #660
2010 modern 10,015 #659
2011 modern 9,877 #661
2012 modern 9,604 #666
2013 modern 9,844 #659
2014 modern 9,872 #663
2015 modern 9,730 #664
2016 modern 9,591 #667

Geography

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Where Barnards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Stowmarket, Lambeth and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, Bridgend, Waveney, Forest of Dean 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Stowmarket Suffolk
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 022 North Lincolnshire
2 Bridgend 003 Bridgend
3 Waveney 003 Waveney
4 Forest of Dean 003 Forest of Dean
5 Wiltshire 047 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barnard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barnard

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Barnard, 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 Barnard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Barnard 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

London Fringe

Within London, Barnard is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Barnard 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

Barnard falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Barnard

The surname Barnard originated from the Anglo-Norman French personal name Barnard, which was derived from the Old German names Bernhard and Bernard. These names were composed of the elements bern, meaning "bear," and hard, meaning "hardy" or "brave." The name Barnard thus signified "brave as a bear."

The Barnard surname first appeared in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is believed to have been introduced by Norman settlers who arrived with William the Conqueror. The name is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Barnard surname is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named Robertus Barnard is mentioned. The name also appears in the Curia Regis Rolls of Worcestershire in 1199, referring to a Robert Barnard.

In the 13th century, the surname was found in various forms, such as Barnarde, Barnerd, and Barnerde, reflecting the evolution of spelling conventions. The place name Barnard Castle in County Durham, England, which dates back to the 12th century, is believed to have been named after a person with the surname Barnard.

Notable individuals with the surname Barnard include:

1. John Barnard (c. 1685-1770), an American politician and farmer who served as the colonial governor of Massachusetts Bay Province. 2. Anne Barnard (1750-1825), a British writer and travel author known for her works on the Middle East. 3. Frederick Barnard (1846-1896), an English illustrator famous for his illustrations in Charles Dickens' novels. 4. Edward Emerson Barnard (1857-1923), an American astronomer who discovered several comets and was the first to observe the Barnard's Star. 5. Christiaan Barnard (1922-2001), a South African cardiac surgeon who performed the world's first successful human-to-human heart transplant in 1967.

The Barnard surname has a rich history, originating from the Anglo-Norman French personal name and evolving over centuries in England and other parts of the world. It has been borne by notable individuals across various fields, reflecting its enduring presence throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Barnard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barnard 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. Middlesex leads with 1,237 Barnards recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.71x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1,237 1.71x
Essex 886 6.19x
Norfolk 748 6.71x
Surrey 736 2.08x
Kent 465 1.88x
Suffolk 449 5.08x
Sussex 380 3.11x
Gloucestershire 372 2.62x
Yorkshire 294 0.41x
Hampshire 226 1.52x
Somerset 178 1.52x
Cambridgeshire 150 3.27x
Lancashire 138 0.16x
Lincolnshire 125 1.08x
Berkshire 97 1.78x
Warwickshire 95 0.52x
Leicestershire 68 0.85x
Huntingdonshire 58 4.03x
Oxfordshire 56 1.25x
Wiltshire 52 0.81x
Cheshire 51 0.32x
Durham 51 0.24x
Hertfordshire 51 1.02x
Staffordshire 51 0.21x
Worcestershire 47 0.50x
Derbyshire 39 0.34x
Bedfordshire 38 1.01x
Buckinghamshire 33 0.75x
Glamorgan 29 0.23x
Northumberland 24 0.22x
Northamptonshire 23 0.34x
Denbighshire 20 0.73x
Monmouthshire 20 0.38x
Nottinghamshire 20 0.20x
Devon 19 0.13x
Clackmannanshire 18 3.01x
Merionethshire 11 0.83x
Royal Navy 10 1.16x
Cornwall 8 0.10x
Fife 8 0.19x
Dorset 7 0.15x
Brecknockshire 6 0.41x
Midlothian 6 0.06x
Cumberland 4 0.06x
Herefordshire 4 0.13x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.10x
Channel Islands 3 0.14x
Lanarkshire 3 0.01x
Shropshire 3 0.05x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.07x
Inverness-shire 2 0.09x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.12x
Berwickshire 1 0.11x
Flintshire 1 0.05x
Kinross-shire 1 0.55x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.04x
Perthshire 1 0.03x
Stirlingshire 1 0.04x
West Lothian 1 0.09x
Westmorland 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 217 Barnards recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.09x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 217 3.09x
Brighton 151 6.12x
Lambeth 151 2.39x
West Ham 108 3.42x
Camberwell 107 2.31x
Hackney London 91 2.24x
Stowmarket 91 89.15x
St Pancras London 84 1.44x
Kensington London 78 1.93x
Portsea 76 2.61x
Bermondsey 69 3.20x
Shoreditch London 68 2.16x
Westbury On Severn East 68 21.15x
Lowestoft 66 15.82x
Newington 61 2.28x
St Marylebone London 59 1.52x
Attleborough 57 101.21x
Haslingfield 56 299.15x
Tottenham 56 4.85x
Chelmsford 49 19.95x
Battersea 47 1.76x
East Donyland 42 121.81x
St George Hanover Square 39 3.05x
Mile End Old Town London 38 2.46x
Great Dunmow 37 49.60x
Wymondham 37 32.45x
Bromley London 35 2.19x
Southwark St George Martyr 35 2.40x
Lewisham 33 2.50x
Aston 32 0.64x
Birmingham 32 0.53x
Deptford St Paul 32 1.68x
Cheltenham 31 2.83x
Heigham 31 5.18x
Poplar London 31 2.27x
Bethnal Green London 30 0.95x
Caistor Next Yarmouth 30 76.43x
Ridgwell 30 183.94x
Chelsea London 29 1.33x
Crondall 29 36.33x
Eastbourne 29 5.15x
Farnham 29 10.55x
Paddington London 29 1.09x
Reigate Foreign 29 7.58x
Croydon 28 1.43x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 28 13.98x
Braintree 27 21.01x
Clerkenwell London 27 1.58x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 25 3.73x
Great Yarmouth 25 2.71x
Gravesend 24 11.46x
Halstead 24 14.37x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 24 7.17x
Clapham 23 2.54x
Hammersmith London 23 1.29x
Abinghall 22 330.83x
East Harling 22 83.14x
Erpingham 22 243.36x
Thaxted 22 46.31x
Waltham Holy Cross 22 16.44x
Morley St Botolph 21 299.15x
Walsall Foreign 21 1.66x
Westminster St James 21 2.82x
Hornsey 20 2.18x
Ingham 20 134.77x
Minster In Sheppey 19 4.64x
Westham 19 76.31x
Enfield 18 3.78x
Greenwich 18 1.56x
Harwich St Nicholas 18 16.28x
Ipswich St Clement 18 8.02x
Leicester St Margaret 18 0.92x
Maidstone 18 2.44x
Northfleet 18 8.26x
Sawbridgeworth 18 23.78x
Scarborough 18 2.76x
Tillicoultry 18 13.51x
Barking 17 4.06x
Leiston 17 28.02x
St Andrewthe Less 17 3.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 430
Elizabeth 246
Sarah 239
Eliza 145
Emma 131
Emily 120
Alice 118
Ellen 111
Annie 106
Ann 102
Jane 102
Hannah 66
Louisa 63
Ada 59
Florence 57
Charlotte 55
Edith 54
Kate 54
Maria 52
Caroline 51
Harriet 51
Martha 49
Fanny 40
Anne 38
Agnes 37
Susan 37
Clara 32
Lucy 31
Margaret 31
Sophia 29
Harriett 28
Matilda 28
Frances 26
Rebecca 26
Catherine 24
Elizth. 24
Julia 23
Rose 23
Gertrude 21
Ruth 20
Anna 19
Susannah 19
Esther 18
Amelia 16
Amy 16
Laura 16
Lydia 16
Minnie 16
Rosa 16
Nellie 15

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 457
John 352
George 250
James 205
Thomas 173
Charles 171
Henry 163
Alfred 107
Edward 97
Arthur 96
Joseph 95
Robert 89
Walter 87
Frederick 86
Samuel 68
Harry 52
Richard 51
Ernest 42
Albert 41
Frank 32
Herbert 31
Benjamin 26
Daniel 22
Francis 22
Wm. 22
David 20
Edwin 19
Fredk. 15
Geo. 15
Fred 14
Philip 14
Fredrick 13
Chas. 12
Edgar 11
Isaac 11
Percy 11
Stephen 10
Thos. 10
Abraham 9
Alexander 8
Horace 8
Sydney 8
Tom 8
Andrew 7
Jno. 7
Jonathan 7
Sidney 7
Frederic 6
Mark 6
Moses 6

Top occupations

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 Barnard households.

FAQ

Barnard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Barnard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7,425 people were recorded with the Barnard surname. That placed it at #576 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Barnard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 9,591 in 2016. That gives Barnard a modern rank of #667.

What does the Barnard surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a person who kept a barn or worked in one.

What does the Barnard map show?

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