NameCensus.

UK surname

Barningham

An English locational surname derived from Barningham, a town in North Yorkshire.

In the 1881 census there were 100 people recorded with the Barningham surname, ranking it #19,750 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 211, ranked #18,904, up from #19,750 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Darlington and Arkengarth Dale. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Richmondshire, Hambleton and Ryedale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barningham is 211 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 111.0%.

1881 census count

100

Ranked #19,750

Modern count

211

2016, ranked #18,904

Peak year

2014

211 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Barningham had 100 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,750 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 211 in 2016, ranked #18,904.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 131 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Barningham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barningham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barningham 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 59 #22,756
1861 historical 86 #22,810
1881 historical 100 #19,750
1891 historical 106 #23,105
1901 historical 131 #19,552
1911 historical 125 #19,932
1997 modern 166 #19,797
1998 modern 188 #18,796
1999 modern 188 #18,931
2000 modern 199 #18,278
2001 modern 192 #18,388
2002 modern 200 #18,294
2003 modern 185 #18,999
2004 modern 188 #18,919
2005 modern 180 #19,395
2006 modern 185 #19,204
2007 modern 188 #19,204
2008 modern 190 #19,246
2009 modern 188 #19,797
2010 modern 192 #19,960
2011 modern 200 #19,280
2012 modern 198 #19,340
2013 modern 208 #19,041
2014 modern 211 #19,002
2015 modern 209 #19,018
2016 modern 211 #18,904

Geography

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Where Barninghams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Darlington, Arkengarth Dale, Hart and Stranton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Richmondshire, Hambleton, Ryedale and Rother. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Darlington Durham
3 Arkengarth Dale Yorkshire, North Riding
4 Hart Durham
5 Stranton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Richmondshire 005 Richmondshire
2 Hambleton 007 Hambleton
3 Ryedale 003 Ryedale
4 Rother 010 Rother
5 Richmondshire 002 Richmondshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barningham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barningham

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Barningham is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Barningham 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

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

Meaning and origin of Barningham

The surname Barningham originated in England, with records dating back to the late 12th century. It is a locational name, derived from the place name Barningham, which refers to several locations across Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Suffolk counties. The name itself is believed to be derived from the Old English words "beam" (barn) and "inga" (people of), together meaning "the people of the barn settlement" or "the people living near the barns."

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1194, where a Richard de Berningham is mentioned. The name also appears in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1301, where a John de Bernyngham is recorded as holding lands in the village of Barningham.

In the 13th century, a branch of the Barningham family held the manor of Barningham in Yorkshire. The family's coat of arms, featuring three golden barn doors on a blue field, further reinforces the connection between the surname and the agricultural origins of their name.

Notable individuals bearing the Barningham surname include:

1. Sir John de Barningham (c.1260-1325), a member of the English gentry and landowner in Yorkshire. 2. Thomas Barningham (c.1375-1443), a Member of Parliament for Yorkshire in the early 15th century. 3. Ralph Barningham (c.1550-1628), an English Catholic priest and one of the earliest members of the Jesuit order in England. 4. John Barningham (1620-1683), an English clergyman and author of several religious works. 5. Joseph Barningham (1768-1846), an English landscape painter known for his depictions of rural scenes and agricultural life.

The Barningham name has also been associated with various locations across England, such as Barningham in Suffolk, Barningham in Yorkshire, and the village of Barningham near Richmond, Yorkshire, which was once home to a prominent branch of the family.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Barningham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barningham 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. Durham leads with 31 Barninghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.58x.

County Total Index
Durham 31 10.58x
Yorkshire 29 2.97x
Lincolnshire 11 6.98x
Norfolk 10 6.60x
Lancashire 9 0.77x
Nottinghamshire 7 5.27x
Essex 2 1.03x
Channel Islands 1 3.43x
Middlesex 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Darlington in Durham leads with 18 Barninghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 159.01x.

Place Total Index
Darlington 18 159.01x
Holt 10 1923.08x
Hart 9 1267.61x
Little Bolton 6 39.92x
Horbury 5 292.40x
Mansfield 5 108.93x
Reeth 5 2083.33x
Arkengarthdale 4 1176.47x
Guisbrough 4 187.79x
West Butterwick With 4 1666.67x
Burton On Ure 3 6000.00x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 3 23.64x
Leeds 3 5.44x
Owston 3 666.67x
Scarborough 3 33.82x
Stretford 3 46.66x
Willoughton 3 1666.67x
Bulwell 2 69.20x
Richmond 2 130.72x
West Ham 2 4.66x
Bethnal Green London 1 2.34x
Gainsborough 1 26.95x
Gateshead 1 4.56x
St Saviour 1 62.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Elizabeth 5
Sarah 4
A. 2
Alice 2
Ann 2
Annie 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Dinah 1
E. 1
Eliza 1
Emiline 1
Emma 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
M. 1
Margaret 1
Margt. 1
Theodosia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 4
James 4
John 4
Robert 4
Thomas 4
Charles 3
Henry 3
Joseph 3
William 3
Christopher 2
Edward 2
Fred 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
D. 1
Frank 1
Jas. 1
Jonathan 1
Luther 1
Margaret 1
Peter 1
Ruben 1
S. 1
Samuel 1
Simon 1
Strawson 1
Terrance 1
W. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Barningham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Barningham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 100 people were recorded with the Barningham surname. That placed it at #19,750 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Barningham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 211 in 2016. That gives Barningham a modern rank of #18,904.

What does the Barningham surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from Barningham, a town in North Yorkshire.

What does the Barningham map show?

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