NameCensus.

UK surname

Barnfather

A surname derived from occupational terms referring to a farm laborer or bailiff.

In the 1881 census there were 433 people recorded with the Barnfather surname, ranking it #7,531 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 540, ranked #9,422, down from #7,531 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Carlisle St Cuthbert, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Langholm and Eskdale and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barnfather is 635 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.7%.

1881 census count

433

Ranked #7,531

Modern count

540

2016, ranked #9,422

Peak year

1911

635 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Barnfather had 433 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,531 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 540 in 2016, ranked #9,422.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 635 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Barnfather surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barnfather surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barnfather 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 288 #7,884
1861 historical 262 #9,458
1881 historical 433 #7,531
1891 historical 476 #7,720
1901 historical 625 #6,850
1911 historical 635 #6,547
1997 modern 580 #8,342
1998 modern 603 #8,365
1999 modern 623 #8,224
2000 modern 617 #8,267
2001 modern 604 #8,260
2002 modern 588 #8,565
2003 modern 587 #8,461
2004 modern 584 #8,508
2005 modern 572 #8,559
2006 modern 563 #8,677
2007 modern 565 #8,722
2008 modern 557 #8,876
2009 modern 555 #9,103
2010 modern 576 #9,036
2011 modern 575 #8,967
2012 modern 559 #9,063
2013 modern 569 #9,066
2014 modern 550 #9,395
2015 modern 545 #9,387
2016 modern 540 #9,422

Geography

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Where Barnfathers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Carlisle St Cuthbert, London parishes, Gateshead, Newcastle St John and Bedlington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Langholm and Eskdale, County Durham, Hambleton and Hartlepool. 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 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
2 London parishes London 1
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Newcastle St John Northumberland
5 Bedlington Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 017 Northumberland
2 Langholm and Eskdale Dumfries and Galloway
3 County Durham 043 County Durham
4 Hambleton 002 Hambleton
5 Hartlepool 002 Hartlepool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barnfather

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barnfather

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Barnfather surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Barnfather household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Barnfather is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Barnfather is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Barnfather 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 Barnfather is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Barnfather

The surname Barnfather has roots in England, originating in the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, indicating a connection to a specific place or landmark within the country. The regions most closely associated with the surname are in Northumberland and Durham, areas prominent during the time due to their agricultural landscapes.

Barnfather is thought to derive from the Middle English words "bern" meaning "barn" and "fader" meaning "father." The term "barn" refers to a storage building for grain or hay, while "father" could imply a patriarchal figure or someone responsible for the main barn of a village or farmstead, possibly indicating a master farmer or a head of a farming collective.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Yorkshire Subsidy Rolls of 1297 with a mention of a John Barnefader. This record aligns with the surname's etymological components, indicating a lineage connected to agricultural leadership or stewardship.

Historical references to the surname also include Thomas Barnfather, who is noted in the Durham Priory records of 1431. His involvement in these religious documents suggests that individuals with this surname were engaged in significant societal roles, possibly linked to the maintenance of church properties or lands.

Another notable figure, William Barnfather, was an influential landowner in the late 16th century. His estate records from 1582 highlight the surname's continued association with land and farming management in Durham. William's lineage further cements the Barnfather name within the realm of agrarian leadership during this period.

The 17th century saw the name Barnfather registered in the Hearth Tax records for Northumberland. John Barnfather, appearing in these records from 1673, indicates the family's continued presence and economic stature in northern England, emphasizing their ongoing connection to land and property management.

In the 18th century, Margaret Barnfather, born in 1712, is recorded in parish registers. Her life in Durham reflects the endurance and spread of the surname through subsequent generations, maintaining its affiliation with the regions of its origin.

Throughout history, the Barnfather surname has symbolized a heritage of agricultural stewardship and leadership within English rural communities. This name's evolution from its medieval roots underscores the enduring legacy of those who carried it, contributing to the history and culture of the regions they inhabited.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Barnfather families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barnfather 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. Cumberland leads with 108 Barnfathers recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.56x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 108 29.56x
Yorkshire 79 1.88x
Northumberland 74 11.72x
Durham 70 5.54x
Lancashire 47 0.93x
Middlesex 29 0.68x
Staffordshire 8 0.56x
Bedfordshire 3 1.37x
Surrey 3 0.15x
Hertfordshire 2 0.68x
Kent 2 0.14x
Midlothian 2 0.35x
Channel Islands 1 0.80x
Essex 1 0.12x
Gloucestershire 1 0.12x
Isle of Man 1 1.27x
Somerset 1 0.15x
Sussex 1 0.14x
Warwickshire 1 0.09x
Westmorland 1 1.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Caldewgate in Cumberland leads with 44 Barnfathers recorded in 1881 and an index of 219.78x.

Place Total Index
Caldewgate 44 219.78x
Bedlington 25 118.60x
Elswick 17 33.74x
Holy Trinity 17 16.81x
Kensington London 17 7.21x
Westoe 13 18.17x
Arthuret 11 288.71x
Preston 11 8.17x
Hunslet 10 15.25x
Moorsley 10 735.29x
Pittington 10 281.69x
Chapel Allerton 9 143.08x
Stranton 9 21.18x
Irthington 8 919.54x
Leek Lowe 8 41.97x
South Frodingham 8 2962.96x
Thorngumbald 8 2051.28x
Whitley 8 392.16x
Ashton Under Lyne 7 6.36x
Mappleton Rowlston 7 2692.31x
Westgate 7 17.90x
Everton 6 3.74x
Salford 6 4.05x
South Milford 6 392.16x
Burtholme 5 1063.83x
Ellenborough Ewanrigg 5 197.63x
Gateshead 5 5.29x
Heworth 5 20.10x
Liverpool 5 1.64x
Nether Denton 5 1063.83x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 5 13.26x
Stainton 5 409.84x
Barnsley 4 9.22x
Fulham London 4 6.50x
Hexham 4 40.94x
Jesmond 4 45.05x
Melkridge 4 909.09x
St Cuthbert W O 4 22.46x
St Mary Within 4 87.72x
Stanhope 4 30.70x
Boldon 3 66.67x
Brampton 3 59.88x
Chelsea London 3 2.35x
Great Bolton 3 4.50x
Kirkoswald 3 348.84x
Rickergate 3 38.81x
Rothwell 3 35.34x
Sherburn 3 78.13x
Whitehaven 3 15.41x
Wootton 3 157.89x
Barrow In Furness 2 2.92x
Crook Billy Row 2 12.37x
Edinburgh St Stephens 2 17.87x
Hetton Le Hole 2 12.50x
Lamesley 2 29.46x
Linthorpe 2 7.97x
Oldham 2 1.23x
Ruislip 2 94.79x
St Albans 2 33.39x
St Marylebone London 2 0.88x
Wavertree 2 12.41x
West Newton Allonby 2 157.48x
Ardwick 1 2.20x
Aston 1 0.34x
Barnes 1 11.44x
Bedminster 1 1.56x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 1 13.19x
Castle Carrock 1 232.56x
Crosby Garrett 1 303.03x
Easington 1 54.64x
Ilkley 1 14.56x
Lewisham 1 1.30x
Low Holme 1 48.54x
Minster In Thanet 1 33.22x
Onchan 1 4.41x
Southcoates 1 4.28x
St Helier 1 2.44x
Sutton Stoneferry 1 8.31x
Walkington 1 70.42x
Wigton 1 18.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 30
Elizabeth 25
Jane 18
Margaret 15
Sarah 15
Ann 11
Isabella 11
Hannah 8
Annie 5
Emily 5
Emma 4
Kate 4
Maria 4
Alice 3
Anne 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Martha 3
Amelia 2
Barbara 2
Fanny 2
Gertrude 2
Laura 2
Lizzie 2
Bethiases 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Cathrine 1
Charlotte 1
Eleanor 1
Emiley 1
Ethel 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Grace 1
H.A. 1
Hanna 1
Harriet 1
Hester 1
Isabel 1
Jemimah 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Maggie 1
Magt. 1
Maraget 1
Margret 1
Thomasina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 38
William 25
George 21
Thomas 18
James 12
David 10
Joseph 10
Robert 8
Thos. 6
Edward 4
Richard 4
Fenwick 3
Henry 3
Nicholas 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Frank 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Samuel 2
Wm. 2
Allan 1
Bernard 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
Elizabeth 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Gabriel 1
Geo. 1
Harrison 1
Herbert 1
Hodgson 1
Hugh 1
Jas. 1
Jasper 1
Lewis 1
Luke 1
Martin 1
Mary 1
Mathew 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Saml.G. 1
Stote 1
Thos.Hy. 1
W. 1

FAQ

Barnfather surname: questions and answers

How common was the Barnfather surname in 1881?

In 1881, 433 people were recorded with the Barnfather surname. That placed it at #7,531 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Barnfather surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 540 in 2016. That gives Barnfather a modern rank of #9,422.

What does the Barnfather surname mean?

A surname derived from occupational terms referring to a farm laborer or bailiff.

What does the Barnfather map show?

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