NameCensus.

UK surname

Barnfield

A place name referring to a barn or wheat field.

In the 1881 census there were 742 people recorded with the Barnfield surname, ranking it #4,945 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,092, ranked #5,364, down from #4,945 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cranham, Sedgley and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stroud, Birmingham and Rotherham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barnfield is 1,238 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.2%.

1881 census count

742

Ranked #4,945

Modern count

1,092

2016, ranked #5,364

Peak year

1999

1,238 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Barnfield had 742 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,945 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,092 in 2016, ranked #5,364.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,064 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Barnfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barnfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barnfield 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 417 #5,829
1861 historical 413 #6,216
1881 historical 742 #4,945
1891 historical 776 #5,171
1901 historical 905 #5,127
1911 historical 1,064 #4,345
1997 modern 1,159 #4,859
1998 modern 1,208 #4,857
1999 modern 1,238 #4,783
2000 modern 1,202 #4,898
2001 modern 1,188 #4,832
2002 modern 1,209 #4,872
2003 modern 1,194 #4,826
2004 modern 1,186 #4,861
2005 modern 1,156 #4,920
2006 modern 1,169 #4,878
2007 modern 1,156 #4,967
2008 modern 1,157 #4,982
2009 modern 1,192 #4,963
2010 modern 1,178 #5,120
2011 modern 1,162 #5,129
2012 modern 1,116 #5,226
2013 modern 1,115 #5,313
2014 modern 1,132 #5,279
2015 modern 1,107 #5,325
2016 modern 1,092 #5,364

Geography

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Where Barnfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cranham, Sedgley, London parishes, Minchinhampton and Cheltenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stroud, Birmingham, Rotherham 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 Cranham Gloucestershire
2 Sedgley Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Minchinhampton Gloucestershire
5 Cheltenham Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stroud 003 Stroud
2 Birmingham 029 Birmingham
3 Rotherham 008 Rotherham
4 Hartlepool 002 Hartlepool
5 Stroud 006 Stroud

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barnfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barnfield

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

Barnfield is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Barnfield 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 Barnfield 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 Barnfield, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Barnfield

The surname Barnfield is of English origin, derived from a topographic name describing someone who lived near a barn or a granary. The prefix "Barn" comes from the Old English word "bere," meaning barley, and "ærn," meaning a storage place or a granary. The suffix "field" refers to an open area of land, often used for cultivation.

The earliest recorded instances of the Barnfield surname date back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known bearers of this name was William de Bernefeld, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219. The name also appeared in various medieval records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where it was spelled as "Barnfeld."

During the medieval period, the Barnfield family was predominantly concentrated in the counties of Yorkshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire. The surname was also associated with several place names, such as Barnfield in Gloucestershire and Barnfield in Oxfordshire.

Notable individuals with the Barnfield surname include:

1. Richard Barnfield (c. 1574 - c. 1627), an English poet and author best known for his work "The Affectionate Shepherd," published in 1594.

2. John Barnfield (1577 - 1635), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucester in the early 17th century.

3. Thomas Barnfield (1608 - 1681), an English Puritan minister and author, known for his work "The Shepherd's Legacy" published in 1636.

4. Samuel Barnfield (1644 - 1723), an English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works, including "The Necessity of Reformation" in 1697.

5. Elizabeth Barnfield (1768 - 1842), an English novelist and poet, best known for her novel "The Orphan of Snowdon" published in 1806.

The Barnfield surname has also been found in various historical records, such as parish registers, tax records, and military rolls. For example, the Hearth Tax Returns of Gloucestershire in the late 17th century list several Barnfield families living in the area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Barnfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barnfield 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. Gloucestershire leads with 372 Barnfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.35x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 372 26.35x
Staffordshire 82 3.37x
Middlesex 44 0.61x
Shropshire 31 4.98x
Warwickshire 27 1.49x
Lancashire 25 0.29x
Wiltshire 25 3.93x
Somerset 20 1.73x
Yorkshire 18 0.25x
Glamorgan 16 1.28x
Berkshire 14 2.59x
Surrey 12 0.34x
Worcestershire 11 1.17x
Monmouthshire 7 1.35x
Herefordshire 6 2.03x
Denbighshire 5 1.84x
Cheshire 4 0.25x
Kent 3 0.12x
Cornwall 2 0.25x
Hertfordshire 2 0.40x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.21x
Sussex 2 0.16x
Brecknockshire 1 0.69x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.23x
Essex 1 0.07x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.61x
Perthshire 1 0.31x
Radnorshire 1 1.72x
Royal Navy 1 1.17x
Suffolk 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cranham in Gloucestershire leads with 43 Barnfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 4479.17x.

Place Total Index
Cranham 43 4479.17x
Cheltenham 33 30.29x
West Bromwich 31 22.28x
Minchinhampton 29 257.78x
Sedgley 23 25.48x
Painswick 19 190.19x
Stroud 18 65.50x
Birmingham 15 2.48x
Cam 13 300.23x
Sevenhampton 12 960.00x
Tirley 12 1008.40x
Badgeworth 11 443.55x
Shipton Moyne 11 1057.69x
Leckhampton 10 114.94x
Withington 10 649.35x
Almondsbury 9 166.98x
Bathford 9 378.15x
Biddestone St Nicholas 9 891.09x
Clifton 9 12.61x
Halifax 9 8.59x
Llantrisant 9 28.49x
Rodborough 9 131.96x
Aston 8 1.60x
Harlington 8 210.53x
Little Somerford 8 851.06x
Pendleton In Salford 8 7.86x
Shipton 8 963.86x
Bisley 7 54.73x
Caton 7 261.19x
Chelsea London 7 3.23x
Eastington 7 149.89x
Handsworth 7 11.69x
Leonard Stanley 7 378.38x
Newington 7 2.63x
Stinchcombe 7 843.37x
Tetbury 7 87.50x
Upton On Severn 7 113.64x
W Felton 7 265.15x
Walsall Foreign 7 5.58x
Westbury On Trym 7 14.64x
Ampney St Peter 6 1395.35x
Harborne 6 7.70x
Horsley 6 96.00x
Shoreditch London 6 1.92x
St Martin 6 86.33x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 3.76x
Cowley 5 675.68x
Ellesmere 5 46.82x
Gloucester St Owen 5 322.58x
Hereford St Owen 5 51.28x
Salperton 5 1388.89x
Twerton 5 41.84x
Biddestone St Peter 4 10000.00x
Harmondsworth 4 89.49x
Hulme 4 2.24x
Llanrhidian Higher 4 50.25x
Lydney 4 54.87x
Meltham 4 36.07x
Mynyddyslwyn 4 19.48x
Randwick 4 143.88x
Sonning 4 67.00x
St Andrew Holborn London 4 12.83x
St Dunstan In West London 4 178.57x
Tilehurst 4 36.63x
Tipton 4 5.38x
Upton St Leonards 4 111.42x
Walcot 4 6.48x
White Waltham 4 198.02x
Bengeworth 3 92.59x
Corse 3 234.38x
Cound 3 254.24x
Dursley 3 51.64x
Eynsford 3 71.26x
Gorton 3 3.74x
Llanvihangel Llantarnam 3 30.24x
Ruabon 3 8.02x
Shrewsbury St Julian 3 19.49x
Whitcombe Magna 3 769.23x
Brinnington 2 13.48x
Kensington London 2 0.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 44
Sarah 34
Elizabeth 31
Eliza 20
Annie 17
Ann 15
Ellen 12
Emma 12
Emily 10
Kate 10
Caroline 7
Lucy 7
Alice 6
Florence 6
Harriet 6
Jane 6
Matilda 6
Amelia 5
Anne 5
Clara 5
Hannah 5
Louisa 5
Ada 4
Frances 4
Margaret 4
Maria 4
Martha 4
Charlotte 3
Ruth 3
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Elleonor 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Gertrude 2
Henrietta 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Lilly 2
Phoebe 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Selina 2
Catherine 1
Charlate 1
Elizath. 1
Ella 1
Lilian 1
Wealthy 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 36
John 35
Thomas 32
George 28
Charles 19
Henry 19
Alfred 15
James 15
Joseph 14
Albert 13
Edward 10
Arthur 9
Daniel 8
Frank 6
Frederick 6
Samuel 6
Walter 6
Robert 5
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Fredk. 3
Jesse 3
Richard 3
Thos. 3
Benjamin 2
Clement 2
Edwd. 2
Herbert 2
Jas. 2
Peter 2
Philip 2
Sidney 2
Sydney 2
Tom 2
Willie 2
Alexander 1
Bartley 1
Christopher 1
Cornelius 1
Ephraim 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Job 1
Joshua 1
Josiah 1
Levi 1
Matthew 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Barnfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Barnfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 742 people were recorded with the Barnfield surname. That placed it at #4,945 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Barnfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,092 in 2016. That gives Barnfield a modern rank of #5,364.

What does the Barnfield surname mean?

A place name referring to a barn or wheat field.

What does the Barnfield map show?

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