NameCensus.

UK surname

Barraclough

A habitational surname originating from a place name meaning "the bare or bald hill".

In the 1881 census there were 2,966 people recorded with the Barraclough surname, ranking it #1,505 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,505, ranked #1,934, down from #1,505 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bradford and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barraclough is 3,968 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.2%.

1881 census count

2,966

Ranked #1,505

Modern count

3,505

2016, ranked #1,934

Peak year

1911

3,968 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Barraclough had 2,966 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,505 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,505 in 2016, ranked #1,934.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,968 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Barraclough surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barraclough surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barraclough 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 1,739 #1,661
1861 historical 1,805 #1,605
1881 historical 2,966 #1,505
1891 historical 3,246 #1,467
1901 historical 3,776 #1,488
1911 historical 3,968 #1,290
1997 modern 3,643 #1,780
1998 modern 3,711 #1,814
1999 modern 3,721 #1,823
2000 modern 3,703 #1,821
2001 modern 3,600 #1,832
2002 modern 3,664 #1,848
2003 modern 3,516 #1,881
2004 modern 3,505 #1,892
2005 modern 3,415 #1,903
2006 modern 3,452 #1,887
2007 modern 3,517 #1,872
2008 modern 3,503 #1,894
2009 modern 3,579 #1,908
2010 modern 3,613 #1,928
2011 modern 3,601 #1,911
2012 modern 3,500 #1,930
2013 modern 3,572 #1,917
2014 modern 3,584 #1,925
2015 modern 3,535 #1,933
2016 modern 3,505 #1,934

Geography

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Where Barracloughs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bradford and Halifax. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale. 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 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 061 Bradford
2 Bradford 059 Bradford
3 Bradford 060 Bradford
4 Kirklees 005 Kirklees
5 Calderdale 015 Calderdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barraclough

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barraclough

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Barraclough surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Barraclough household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Barraclough 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

Barraclough is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Barraclough 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 Barraclough is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Barraclough

The surname BARRACLOUGH is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words 'bær' meaning 'boar' and 'cloh' meaning 'ravine' or 'valley'. It is believed to have originated in the northern regions of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire, where it first emerged as a locational surname.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname BARRACLOUGH dates back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known bearers was Robert de Baraclough, who was mentioned in the Yorkshire Feet of Fines in 1275. The Feet of Fines were legal documents used to record land transfers, providing valuable insights into the historical presence of surnames in specific regions.

BARRACLOUGH is closely associated with the village of Barraclough, located in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The village's name is derived from the same Old English roots, suggesting that the surname may have originated from this location or a similar place name.

During the medieval period, the surname BARRACLOUGH appeared in various historical records, including the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, where it was spelled as 'Baraclough'. This variation in spelling was common in those times, reflecting the inconsistencies in record-keeping and the evolution of the English language.

Notable individuals with the surname BARRACLOUGH throughout history include:

1. William Barraclough (1561-1628), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Rector of Whittington in Shropshire. 2. John Barraclough (1736-1801), a British industrialist and entrepreneur who established successful textile mills in Yorkshire. 3. Geoffrey Barraclough (1908-1984), a renowned British historian and academic who specialized in modern European history. 4. Sir Rodney Barraclough (1920-1994), an Australian lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria from 1983 to 1992. 5. Solon Barraclough (1890-1975), an English professional footballer who played as a forward for several clubs, including Manchester United and Newcastle United.

The surname BARRACLOUGH has a rich history deeply rooted in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire. Its origins can be traced back to the 13th century, and it has been documented in various historical records over the centuries, reflecting the presence and contributions of individuals bearing this name in various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Barraclough families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barraclough 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. Yorkshire leads with 2,664 Barracloughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.30x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 2,664 9.30x
Lancashire 65 0.19x
Lincolnshire 58 1.25x
Surrey 39 0.28x
Durham 31 0.36x
Middlesex 26 0.09x
Cheshire 23 0.36x
Staffordshire 9 0.09x
Derbyshire 8 0.18x
Stirlingshire 8 0.75x
Lanarkshire 7 0.07x
Kent 6 0.06x
Warwickshire 6 0.08x
Leicestershire 3 0.09x
Gloucestershire 2 0.04x
Hampshire 2 0.03x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.05x
Rutland 2 0.94x
Midlothian 1 0.03x
Somerset 1 0.02x
Sussex 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Bierley in Yorkshire leads with 457 Barracloughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 295.43x.

Place Total Index
North Bierley 457 295.43x
Bradford 150 21.63x
Horton In Bradford 142 31.74x
Bowling 97 34.18x
Leeds 89 5.50x
Shelf 88 321.52x
Hipperholme Cum 84 66.72x
Sowerby In Halifax 69 73.65x
Wyke In Bradford 68 132.71x
Morley 60 40.28x
Hunslet 58 12.98x
Barnsley 53 17.93x
Gomersal 51 38.14x
Manningham 50 14.17x
Rastrick 42 52.78x
Batley 40 14.69x
Pudsey 40 26.12x
Farnley In Bramley 38 106.23x
Cleckheaton 36 34.11x
Eccleshill 31 44.46x
Soothill 30 28.99x
Halifax 28 6.66x
Northowram 27 13.44x
Drighlington 26 62.29x
Denby 25 161.71x
Wortley In Bramley 25 11.02x
Liversedge 24 18.82x
Skelmanthorpe 24 77.59x
Kimberworth 23 14.46x
Tankersley 22 103.00x
Tong 22 39.75x
Ecclesall Bierlow 21 3.60x
Calverley Cum Farsley 20 24.59x
Dewsbury 19 6.47x
Barton St Mary St Peter 18 210.04x
Stainbrough 17 320.75x
Ecclesfield 16 7.62x
Lambeth 15 0.60x
Nether Hallam 15 3.87x
Norland 15 76.26x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 15 14.66x
Penistone 14 62.67x
Sheffield 14 1.53x
Barton St Mary 13 56.06x
Clifton In Halifax 13 75.93x
Haworth 13 19.09x
Templenewsam Thorpe 12 201.01x
Armley 11 8.70x
Camberwell 11 0.60x
East Ardsley 11 44.34x
Marsden In Almondbury 11 42.19x
Mirfield 11 6.99x
West Clayton 11 77.36x
Ardsley 10 30.28x
Barton St Peter 10 47.19x
Clapham 10 2.77x
Gildersome 10 29.04x
Headingley Cum Burley 10 5.42x
Ovenden 10 7.84x
Shipley 10 6.73x
Skircoat 10 8.85x
Thornton In Bradford 10 10.48x
Tinsley 10 99.70x
Bingley 9 4.93x
Skipton 9 9.98x
Wardleworth 9 4.59x
Acton 8 4.72x
Alva 8 15.73x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 8 8.16x
Cawthorne In Wortley 8 69.14x
Gainsborough 8 7.34x
Hartshead 8 62.31x
Ruswarp 8 25.10x
Swillington 8 98.16x
Tintwistle 8 23.45x
Elland Cum Greetland 7 5.42x
Hunshelf 7 49.86x
Kirkdale 7 1.21x
Midgley 7 22.93x
Rawdon 7 20.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 208
Sarah 145
Elizabeth 86
Hannah 75
Martha 73
Ann 61
Annie 49
Emma 44
Jane 41
Alice 37
Eliza 34
Clara 31
Ellen 30
Ada 24
Emily 22
Harriet 18
Lucy 17
Edith 15
Maria 14
Ruth 14
Elizth. 13
Grace 13
Betty 12
Margaret 12
Fanny 11
Louisa 11
Susannah 11
Charlotte 10
Florence 10
Frances 9
Isabella 9
Nancy 9
Julia 8
Sophia 8
Esther 7
Amelia 6
Ethel 6
Gertrude 6
Kate 6
Rachel 6
Betsy 5
Eva 5
Lydia 5
Mabel 5
Matilda 5
Selina 5
Anne 4
Harriett 4
Naomi 4
Priscilla 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 177
William 114
James 91
Joseph 78
George 67
Thomas 61
Henry 48
Samuel 43
Arthur 37
Charles 33
Fred 33
Harry 28
Alfred 27
Albert 26
Walter 26
Frank 22
Herbert 21
Abraham 19
Edwin 18
Sam 17
Francis 14
Benjamin 12
Isaac 12
Joshua 12
Willie 12
Ernest 11
Jonas 11
Richard 10
Squire 10
Thos. 10
Edward 9
Joe 9
Robert 8
David 7
Frederick 7
Paul 7
Seth 7
Tom 7
Wm. 7
Amos 6
Geo. 6
Chas. 5
Ephraim 5
Jno. 5
Levi 5
Lewis 5
Peter 5
Hiram 4
Jesse 4
Simeon 4

FAQ

Barraclough surname: questions and answers

How common was the Barraclough surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,966 people were recorded with the Barraclough surname. That placed it at #1,505 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Barraclough surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,505 in 2016. That gives Barraclough a modern rank of #1,934.

What does the Barraclough surname mean?

A habitational surname originating from a place name meaning "the bare or bald hill".

What does the Barraclough map show?

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