NameCensus.

UK surname

Barnet

From the English town of Barnet or 'dweller near the barn'.

In the 1881 census there were 1,447 people recorded with the Barnet surname, ranking it #2,876 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 326, ranked #13,896, down from #2,876 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Christ Church Spitalfields, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dowanhill, New Forest and Hillside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barnet is 1,636 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 77.5%.

1881 census count

1,447

Ranked #2,876

Modern count

326

2016, ranked #13,896

Peak year

1861

1,636 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Barnet had 1,447 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,876 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 326 in 2016, ranked #13,896.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,636 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Barnet surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barnet surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barnet 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 1,574 #1,831
1861 historical 1,636 #1,745
1881 historical 1,447 #2,876
1891 historical 1,401 #3,107
1901 historical 1,021 #4,676
1911 historical 436 #8,711
1997 modern 336 #12,549
1998 modern 355 #12,418
1999 modern 353 #12,522
2000 modern 358 #12,356
2001 modern 336 #12,721
2002 modern 335 #13,020
2003 modern 294 #14,002
2004 modern 289 #14,219
2005 modern 292 #14,072
2006 modern 310 #13,603
2007 modern 327 #13,229
2008 modern 334 #13,142
2009 modern 340 #13,244
2010 modern 346 #13,352
2011 modern 343 #13,277
2012 modern 326 #13,691
2013 modern 327 #13,868
2014 modern 331 #13,851
2015 modern 321 #14,062
2016 modern 326 #13,896

Geography

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Where Barnets are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Christ Church Spitalfields, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, London parishes, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dowanhill, New Forest, Hillside, Morningside and North Leith and Newhaven. 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 Christ Church Spitalfields London (East Districts)
2 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
3 London parishes London 3
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dowanhill Glasgow City
2 New Forest 007 New Forest
3 Hillside Angus
4 Morningside City of Edinburgh
5 North Leith and Newhaven City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barnet

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barnet

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Student Living and Professional Footholds

Nationally, the Barnet surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Student Living and Professional Footholds, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Barnet household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

The Group includes many students, some of whom reside in communal residences. Single-person households are the most prevalent and the modal age band is 25 to 44. There are few families with dependent children. A significant number of White residents were born in EU countries (although UK-born residents are more common than in the rest of the Group), and households reflect a diversity of ethnic groups. Residential turnover is exceptionally high and, communal properties aside, flats are the norm. Some properties, including those in the private rental sector, are over-crowded. Many residents are professionals and technicians educated to degree level, and the Group is particularly common near the campuses of established university towns and cities.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Barnet is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Barnet 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

Barnet falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Barnet is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Barnet

The surname Barnet is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words "bær" meaning "bear" and "nætt" meaning "meadow" or "clearing." It originated as a place name for towns and villages located in areas with meadows frequented by bears, such as the town of Barnet in Hertfordshire, England.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Barnet can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was spelled "Bernanede." This suggests that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

In the 12th century, the surname appeared in various records as "Barnett" and "Bernett," reflecting the variations in spelling common during that era. One notable example is William Bernett, who was recorded as a landowner in the village of Barnet in 1195.

During the Middle Ages, the surname was also associated with the town of Barnett in Staffordshire, England, which was originally known as "Bernet." This place name likely contributed to the spread and popularity of the surname throughout the region.

By the 16th century, the spelling had largely settled on "Barnet," as seen in the records of Thomas Barnet, a merchant from London who lived from 1520 to 1589.

Other notable individuals with the surname Barnet throughout history include:

1. Sir John Barnet (1591-1674), an English politician and member of Parliament during the English Civil War. 2. Benjamin Barnet (1685-1768), an American silversmith and engraver known for his work in colonial Massachusetts. 3. James Barnet (1779-1856), a Scottish minister and author who published several works on theology and philosophy. 4. William Barnet (1876-1956), an American painter and illustrator known for his depictions of rural life in the United States. 5. Natalie Barnet (1903-1994), a British actress and playwright who appeared in numerous stage productions and films throughout the 20th century.

The surname Barnet has endured for centuries, with its roots firmly planted in the landscapes and histories of England and the United States. Its origins reflect the close connection between language, place, and identity that has shaped many family names over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Barnet families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barnet 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 227 Barnets recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.62x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 227 1.62x
Angus 101 7.79x
Surrey 76 1.11x
Warwickshire 74 2.10x
Lancashire 70 0.42x
Staffordshire 62 1.31x
Fife 58 7.00x
Yorkshire 52 0.37x
Aberdeenshire 46 3.55x
Lanarkshire 46 1.02x
Midlothian 42 2.24x
Somerset 42 1.86x
Kent 37 0.77x
Sussex 34 1.44x
Hampshire 33 1.15x
Worcestershire 31 1.70x
Lincolnshire 27 1.21x
Nottinghamshire 25 1.33x
Shropshire 25 2.07x
Durham 24 0.58x
Perthshire 22 3.50x
Bedfordshire 20 2.76x
Derbyshire 20 0.91x
Cheshire 19 0.61x
Essex 18 0.65x
Berkshire 17 1.62x
Gloucestershire 15 0.55x
Leicestershire 15 0.97x
Northumberland 12 0.58x
Inverness-shire 11 2.63x
Banffshire 9 3.10x
Buckinghamshire 9 1.06x
Wiltshire 9 0.73x
Ayrshire 8 0.76x
Ross-shire 8 2.08x
Cornwall 7 0.44x
Devon 7 0.24x
Norfolk 7 0.33x
Glamorgan 6 0.25x
Kinross-shire 6 16.95x
Montgomeryshire 6 1.87x
Oxfordshire 6 0.69x
Monmouthshire 5 0.49x
Northamptonshire 5 0.38x
Pembrokeshire 5 1.12x
Hertfordshire 4 0.41x
Roxburghshire 4 1.58x
Merionethshire 3 1.17x
Orkney 3 1.95x
Anglesey 2 0.81x
Renfrewshire 2 0.18x
Suffolk 2 0.12x
Argyllshire 1 0.26x
Channel Islands 1 0.24x
Denbighshire 1 0.19x
Dorset 1 0.11x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.32x
Herefordshire 1 0.17x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.36x
Peeblesshire 1 1.52x
Royal Navy 1 0.60x
Stirlingshire 1 0.19x
West Lothian 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 65 Barnets recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.43x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 65 13.43x
Barony 37 3.23x
Kirkcaldy 25 60.83x
Norton In Moors 23 91.96x
St Marylebone London 23 3.08x
Aberdeen Old Machar 22 8.13x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 22 2.92x
Islington London 22 1.62x
Aston 21 2.16x
Farnham 20 37.71x
Keysoe 20 588.24x
Birmingham 19 1.61x
Kensington London 18 2.31x
St Vigeans 18 25.71x
Coventry St Michael 16 14.11x
Mile End Old Town London 15 5.03x
Woolbeding 15 862.07x
Greenwich 14 6.28x
Whitechapel London 13 9.42x
Great Bolton 12 5.45x
Shoreditch London 12 1.98x
Camberwell 11 1.23x
Inverness 11 10.46x
Hackney London 10 1.27x
Shawbury 10 215.52x
Stoke Upon Trent 10 2.00x
Cheetham 9 7.26x
Leigh 9 40.56x
Markinch 9 31.99x
Old Stratford 9 45.02x
West Ham 9 1.48x
Ashby De La Zouch 8 22.23x
Bedminster 8 3.78x
Caverswall 8 32.57x
Chelsea London 8 1.90x
Cromarty 8 77.75x
Crowland 8 56.98x
Hendon 8 15.89x
Mile End New Town London 8 28.92x
Nottingham St Mary 8 1.64x
Spitalfields London 8 7.60x
Tudhoe 8 21.95x
Abingdon St Helen 7 22.79x
Brighton 7 1.47x
Bulwell 7 17.06x
Church Gresley 7 20.07x
Colston Bassett 7 469.80x
East Bedfont 7 100.72x
Ellingham 7 514.71x
Foots Cray 7 76.59x
Govan 7 0.63x
Logie 7 374.33x
Manchester 7 0.94x
North Curry 7 91.26x
Teddington London 7 22.07x
West Dean 7 15.70x
Auchterless 6 58.31x
Berrow 6 335.20x
Cupar 6 16.65x
Horton In Bradford 6 2.77x
Kettins 6 137.93x
Kingston On Thames 6 3.66x
Kinross 6 49.46x
Liff Benvie 6 3.05x
Nuneaton 6 14.67x
Oxted 6 73.08x
Peasemore 6 413.79x
Salford 6 1.23x
St Pancras London 6 0.53x
Stoke St Gregory 6 87.72x
Thorpe Salvin 6 346.82x
Weston Super Mare 6 10.54x
Whittington 6 19.79x
Auchterarder 5 28.51x
Bermondsey 5 1.20x
Leyton Low 5 8.90x
New Deer 5 21.30x
Newbattle 5 31.19x
Streatham 5 4.81x
Tottenham 5 2.24x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 69
George 45
John 45
James 32
Henry 28
Thomas 27
Samuel 21
Joseph 20
Charles 17
Richard 13
Alfred 12
Frederick 10
Arthur 9
Walter 8
Edward 7
Albert 6
Benjamin 6
David 6
Edwin 6
Francis 6
Robert 6
Harry 4
Anthony 3
Fred 3
Stephen 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Albt. 2
Alexander 2
Arther 2
Edgar 2
Elijah 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Horatio 2
Josiah 2
Mark 2
Owen 2
Patrick 2
Peter 2
Phillip 2
Samson 2
Sidney 2
Solomon 2
Bejamin 1
Edmund 1
Elias 1
Geo.Hy. 1
Wolf 1

FAQ

Barnet surname: questions and answers

How common was the Barnet surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,447 people were recorded with the Barnet surname. That placed it at #2,876 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Barnet surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 326 in 2016. That gives Barnet a modern rank of #13,896.

What does the Barnet surname mean?

From the English town of Barnet or 'dweller near the barn'.

What does the Barnet map show?

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