NameCensus.

UK surname

Barras

A French toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "the clay," referring to the type of soil.

In the 1881 census there were 582 people recorded with the Barras surname, ranking it #5,992 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 717, ranked #7,575, down from #5,992 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Darlington and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gateshead, South Tyneside and Stockton-on-Tees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barras is 743 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.2%.

1881 census count

582

Ranked #5,992

Modern count

717

2016, ranked #7,575

Peak year

2014

743 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Barras had 582 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,992 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 717 in 2016, ranked #7,575.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 690 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Barras surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barras surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barras 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 269 #8,303
1861 historical 318 #7,999
1881 historical 582 #5,992
1891 historical 592 #6,456
1901 historical 690 #6,352
1911 historical 612 #6,734
1997 modern 708 #7,187
1998 modern 728 #7,266
1999 modern 732 #7,274
2000 modern 719 #7,356
2001 modern 689 #7,461
2002 modern 704 #7,474
2003 modern 695 #7,421
2004 modern 718 #7,237
2005 modern 689 #7,441
2006 modern 694 #7,408
2007 modern 694 #7,478
2008 modern 699 #7,494
2009 modern 722 #7,451
2010 modern 730 #7,530
2011 modern 734 #7,440
2012 modern 722 #7,445
2013 modern 725 #7,535
2014 modern 743 #7,442
2015 modern 714 #7,606
2016 modern 717 #7,575

Geography

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Where Barras' are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Gateshead, South Tyneside, Stockton-on-Tees and County Durham. 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 Gateshead Durham
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Jarrow Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gateshead 016 Gateshead
2 South Tyneside 014 South Tyneside
3 Stockton-on-Tees 004 Stockton-on-Tees
4 County Durham 047 County Durham
5 Gateshead 011 Gateshead

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barras

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barras

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Barras, 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 Barras surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Barras 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Barras 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

Barras is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Barras

The surname Barras is believed to have originated in Spain during the medieval period, specifically in the region of Catalonia. It is derived from the Catalan word "barra," which translates to "bar" or "rod." This could suggest that the name was initially associated with an occupation or trade involving metalworking or blacksmithing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Barras can be found in the 13th-century Catalan manuscript "Llibre dels Fets" (Book of Deeds), which chronicles the reign of King James I of Aragon. The text mentions a certain "Ramon Barras" who participated in the conquest of Valencia in 1238.

As the Barras family spread across the Iberian Peninsula, variations in spelling emerged, such as "Barras," "Barrás," and "Barràs." These different spellings can be found in various historical documents and records from the 14th to the 16th centuries.

During the 15th century, the name Barras gained prominence in the region of Aragon, where a notable family bearing this surname held prominent positions within the local nobility. One notable member was Juan de Barras (1430-1492), who served as a trusted advisor to King Ferdinand II of Aragon and played a significant role in the Spanish Inquisition.

In the 16th century, the Barras name also appeared in the New World, as Spanish explorers and settlers carried the surname across the Atlantic. One such individual was Pedro de Barras (1510-1578), a conquistador who participated in the conquest of Peru and later became a prominent landowner in present-day Chile.

Another notable figure was Alonso de Barras (1555-1627), a Spanish soldier and author who wrote extensively about his experiences in the Spanish Netherlands during the Eighty Years' War against the Dutch Republic.

During the 18th century, the Barras surname gained recognition in France, where it was associated with the prominent military and political figure Paul François Jean Nicolas, Vicomte de Barras (1755-1829). He played a pivotal role during the French Revolution and later served as a member of the Directory, one of the governing bodies of post-revolutionary France.

Throughout its history, the Barras surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from noblemen and military leaders to explorers and authors, reflecting the widespread distribution and prominence of this name across various regions and cultures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Barras families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barras 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 232 Barras' recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.71x.

County Total Index
Durham 232 13.71x
Yorkshire 180 3.19x
Northumberland 69 8.15x
Lanarkshire 31 1.69x
Lancashire 22 0.33x
Warwickshire 13 0.91x
Middlesex 10 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.78x
Surrey 4 0.14x
Leicestershire 3 0.48x
Derbyshire 2 0.22x
Huntingdonshire 2 1.77x
Sussex 2 0.21x
Cheshire 1 0.08x
Cumberland 1 0.20x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Kent 1 0.05x
Lincolnshire 1 0.11x
Renfrewshire 1 0.23x
Royal Navy 1 1.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 34 Barras' recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.84x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 34 26.84x
Westoe 22 22.94x
Heworth 20 59.99x
Darlington 18 27.56x
Ecclesfield 18 43.56x
Holbeck 18 48.21x
Hunslet 17 19.34x
Habergham Eaves 14 22.70x
Hetton Le Hole 14 65.30x
Houghton Le Spring 14 119.66x
Bishopwearmouth 13 8.95x
West Ardsley 13 191.74x
Seaton Delaval 12 161.51x
North Seaton 11 309.86x
Ryhope 11 93.62x
Shotts 11 49.98x
Cowpen 10 51.33x
Huddersfield 10 12.18x
Rotherham 10 31.48x
Armley 9 36.20x
Barony 9 1.93x
Doncaster 9 21.86x
Kingstonupon Hull 9 199.12x
Aston 8 2.03x
Plawsworth 8 437.16x
Rothwell 8 70.30x
Stranton 8 14.04x
Moorsley 7 384.62x
Pegswood 7 368.42x
Pelton 7 86.96x
Wortley In Bramley 7 15.68x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 6 29.31x
Bedlington 6 21.24x
Edmondsley 6 331.49x
Govan 6 1.32x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 6 11.87x
Coventry St Michael 5 10.85x
Rastrick 5 31.95x
Shettleston 5 30.36x
Tanfield 5 24.85x
Washington 5 70.52x
West Auckland 5 80.78x
Arnold 4 35.75x
Bedale 4 195.12x
Brightside Bierlow 4 3.62x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 3.49x
Harton 4 59.88x
Holywell 4 91.95x
Longbenton 4 11.16x
Swinton In Rotherham 4 26.85x
Barnard Castle 3 35.89x
Bolton On Dearne 3 153.85x
Burnley 3 5.28x
Croydon 3 1.95x
Drighlington 3 36.54x
Hartlepool 3 12.47x
Haswell 3 24.73x
Heaton 3 49.59x
Medomsley 3 38.02x
Seghill 3 72.29x
St Giles 3 28.41x
Bury 2 2.59x
Chester Le Street 2 15.40x
Dewsbury 2 3.46x
Ealing 2 3.94x
Hove 2 4.75x
Islington London 2 0.36x
Kensington London 2 0.63x
Nottingham St Mary 2 1.01x
Prudhoe Castle 2 121.95x
Sherburn 2 38.84x
St Ives 2 34.13x
Unstone 2 57.14x
Whickham 2 12.85x
Winlaton 2 12.32x
Witton Gilbert 2 29.94x
Aldershot 1 2.56x
Jesmond 1 8.40x
Meltham 1 11.42x
Northallerton 1 13.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 44
Elizabeth 22
Sarah 17
Jane 14
Ann 13
Eliza 12
Hannah 11
Isabella 10
Margaret 10
Annie 5
Emily 5
Emma 5
Fanny 5
Hellen 5
Edith 4
Ellen 4
Esther 4
Martha 4
Alice 3
Eliz. 3
Florence 3
Margt. 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Barbara 2
Catherine 2
Emely 2
Frances 2
Helen 2
Kate 2
Maria 2
Rebecca 2
Susannah 2
Ada 1
Allice 1
Bertha 1
Betty 1
Charlotte 1
Eleanor 1
Elenor 1
Elenore 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Jessie 1
Julie 1
Maggie 1
Wilhelmina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 43
William 34
Thomas 22
James 18
Joseph 17
George 15
Henry 15
Robert 13
Edward 11
Alexander 5
Abraham 4
Andrew 4
Benjamin 4
Cuthbert 4
Walter 4
Wm. 4
Arthur 3
Charles 3
David 3
Samuel 3
Stephen 3
Alfred 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Jonathan 2
Joshua 2
Matthew 2
Oliver 2
Ralph 2
Sidney 2
Adam 1
Benjin. 1
Corneluis 1
Francis 1
Fred.A. 1
Fredrick 1
Hubert 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Martin 1
Mathew 1
Nicholas 1
Payne 1
Percey 1
Rich. 1
Richd. 1
Robt. 1
Sam 1
Wm.John 1

FAQ

Barras surname: questions and answers

How common was the Barras surname in 1881?

In 1881, 582 people were recorded with the Barras surname. That placed it at #5,992 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Barras surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 717 in 2016. That gives Barras a modern rank of #7,575.

What does the Barras surname mean?

A French toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "the clay," referring to the type of soil.

What does the Barras map show?

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