UK surname
An occupational surname derived from the Middle High German word "barn," meaning "child" or "descendant," likely referring to a childminder.
In the 1881 census there were 47 people recorded with the Barner surname, ranking it #27,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 48, ranked #35,004, down from #27,019 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, St Pancras and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barner is 910 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.1%.
1881 census count
47
Ranked #27,019
Modern count
48
2016, ranked #35,004
Peak year
1861
910 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Barner surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Barner surname density by area, 1911 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 | 333 | #7,015 |
| 1861 | historical | 910 | #3,043 |
| 1881 | historical | 47 | #27,019 |
| 1891 | historical | 687 | #5,701 |
| 1901 | historical | 152 | #17,916 |
| 1911 | historical | 222 | #13,992 |
| 1997 | modern | 71 | #30,521 |
| 1998 | modern | 68 | #31,181 |
| 1999 | modern | 67 | #31,409 |
| 2000 | modern | 56 | #32,514 |
| 2001 | modern | 30 | #34,753 |
| 2002 | modern | 37 | #34,390 |
| 2003 | modern | 34 | #34,681 |
| 2004 | modern | 38 | #34,555 |
| 2005 | modern | 41 | #34,478 |
| 2006 | modern | 40 | #34,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 37 | #35,215 |
| 2008 | modern | 37 | #35,327 |
| 2009 | modern | 39 | #35,321 |
| 2010 | modern | 43 | #35,233 |
| 2011 | modern | 39 | #35,444 |
| 2012 | modern | 42 | #35,269 |
| 2013 | modern | 48 | #35,012 |
| 2014 | modern | 49 | #34,991 |
| 2015 | modern | 50 | #34,886 |
| 2016 | modern | 48 | #35,004 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, St Pancras, Manchester, Portsmouth, Portsea and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. 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 | Hull Holy Trinity | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| 5 | Birmingham Town: Birmingham | Warwickshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Barner 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 Barner, 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 Barner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Barner 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, Barner 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 Barner is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Barner, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Barner has its origins in Germany and dates back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old High German word "barn," which means "child" or "son." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive nickname for a child or a young man.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Barner can be found in the records of the town of Bamberg in Bavaria, Germany, where a certain Heinricus Barner was mentioned in a document from 1234. This document is preserved in the town's archives and provides valuable insight into the early use of the surname.
Another historical reference to the name Barner can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of documents related to the history of Brandenburg, Germany. This collection includes a record from 1298 that mentions a certain Johannes Barner, who was a landowner in the region.
Over the centuries, the name Barner has undergone various spelling variations, including Berner, Börner, and Bärner, reflecting regional dialects and changes in language over time.
One notable individual with the surname Barner was Johann Barner, a German composer and organist who lived from 1670 to 1735. He was a renowned figure in the Baroque era and is known for his contributions to church music.
Another individual of note was Friedrich Barner, a German mathematician and astronomer who lived from 1792 to 1870. He made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and is remembered for his work on the theory of cometary orbits.
In the realm of literature, the name Barner is associated with the German writer and philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1762-1814), whose birth name was Johann Gottlieb Barner. He is considered one of the founding figures of German idealism and is renowned for his philosophical works.
The surname Barner also has connections to the world of art. One example is the German painter and printmaker Johann Friedrich Barner (1639-1700), who was known for his landscapes and architectural scenes.
Finally, a more recent figure with the surname Barner was the German actor and director Tilo Barner (1919-2005), who had a successful career in both film and television.
While the surname Barner may not be as widespread as some others, its long history and presence across various fields demonstrate its enduring legacy and significance within German culture and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barner 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. Lancashire leads with 16 Barners recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.00x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 16 | 3.00x |
| Yorkshire | 13 | 2.92x |
| Kent | 9 | 5.88x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 1.56x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 5.43x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Everton in Lancashire leads with 10 Barners recorded in 1881 and an index of 58.93x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Everton | 10 | 58.93x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 9 | 354.33x |
| York St Helen Stonegate | 8 | 11428.57x |
| Hammersmith London | 6 | 54.30x |
| North Meols | 5 | 95.97x |
| Clifton In York | 3 | 322.58x |
| York St John Delpike | 2 | 4000.00x |
| Allensmore | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Sharples | 1 | 172.41x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 12.64x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Barner 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 Barner 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 Barner households.
FAQ
In 1881, 47 people were recorded with the Barner surname. That placed it at #27,019 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 48 in 2016. That gives Barner a modern rank of #35,004.
An occupational surname derived from the Middle High German word "barn," meaning "child" or "descendant," likely referring to a childminder.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Barner 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.