NameCensus.

UK surname

Barrass

An occupational surname deriving from the Old French word "barate", meaning a barrel maker.

In the 1881 census there were 740 people recorded with the Barrass surname, ranking it #4,951 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,086, ranked #3,101, up from #4,951 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Wakefield and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barrass is 2,160 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 181.9%.

1881 census count

740

Ranked #4,951

Modern count

2,086

2016, ranked #3,101

Peak year

2010

2,160 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Barrass had 740 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,951 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,086 in 2016, ranked #3,101.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,568 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Barrass surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barrass surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barrass 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 474 #5,250
1861 historical 438 #5,884
1881 historical 740 #4,951
1891 historical 878 #4,687
1901 historical 1,179 #4,152
1911 historical 1,568 #3,095
1997 modern 2,045 #3,003
1998 modern 2,149 #2,984
1999 modern 2,141 #3,013
2000 modern 2,070 #3,084
2001 modern 2,029 #3,077
2002 modern 2,094 #3,058
2003 modern 2,009 #3,104
2004 modern 2,023 #3,083
2005 modern 2,006 #3,080
2006 modern 1,995 #3,103
2007 modern 2,014 #3,110
2008 modern 2,051 #3,083
2009 modern 2,100 #3,077
2010 modern 2,160 #3,068
2011 modern 2,132 #3,063
2012 modern 2,070 #3,099
2013 modern 2,085 #3,132
2014 modern 2,096 #3,135
2015 modern 2,071 #3,140
2016 modern 2,086 #3,101

Geography

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Where Barrass' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft), Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Long Benton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Wakefield, Doncaster, Sunderland 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 Gateshead Durham
3 Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft) Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Long Benton Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 008 Northumberland
2 Wakefield 011 Wakefield
3 Doncaster 003 Doncaster
4 Sunderland 028 Sunderland
5 County Durham 008 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barrass

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barrass

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Barrass 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

Barrass 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

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

Meaning and origin of Barrass

The surname Barrass is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval era. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "bær," meaning "pasture" or "open field." This suggests that the name was likely associated with individuals who resided in or near such areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Barra." This entry provides valuable insight into the antiquity of the surname and its early variations.

During the 13th century, the name Barrass began to appear more frequently in historical records, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. This geographic concentration suggests that the name may have originated or gained prominence in these regions.

Notably, in 1273, a certain Robert Barrasse was documented in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire, indicating the presence of the surname in the area during that time period.

Over the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, including Barras, Barrasse, and Barrace. These variations reflect the fluidity of surname spellings during the Middle Ages and the influence of regional dialects.

Among the notable individuals who bore the surname Barrass throughout history are:

1. John Barrass (1613-1684), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Letheringsett in Norfolk. 2. William Barrass (1778-1854), a British engineer and inventor known for his contributions to the development of the steam engine. 3. Elizabeth Barrass (1821-1895), a British philanthropist and social reformer who advocated for women's education and the abolition of slavery. 4. Thomas Barrass (1845-1923), a British trade unionist and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Sheffield Attercliffe. 5. Robert Barrass (1876-1942), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

While the name Barrass may have originated from a place name or location, its precise origins remain subject to ongoing research and exploration by historians and onomastic scholars.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Barrass families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barrass 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 289 Barrass' recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.49x.

County Total Index
Durham 289 13.49x
Yorkshire 197 2.76x
Northumberland 157 14.66x
Leicestershire 27 3.38x
Nottinghamshire 16 1.65x
Lancashire 13 0.15x
Lincolnshire 9 0.78x
Cheshire 7 0.44x
Huntingdonshire 6 4.20x
Glamorgan 5 0.40x
Derbyshire 3 0.27x
Kent 2 0.08x
Middlesex 2 0.03x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Northamptonshire 1 0.15x
Perthshire 1 0.31x
Rutland 1 1.89x
Surrey 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stainforth In Thorne in Yorkshire leads with 34 Barrass' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1868.13x.

Place Total Index
Stainforth In Thorne 34 1868.13x
Hunslet 30 26.97x
Backworth 29 1021.13x
Gateshead 29 18.08x
Holbeck 28 59.25x
Pelton 27 264.97x
Helmington Row 21 210.42x
Idle 17 51.39x
Longbenton 17 37.47x
Hetton Le Hole 16 58.95x
Kyo 15 148.81x
Earsdon 14 160.73x
Horton 14 264.65x
Sherburn 13 199.39x
Newcastle On Tyne St 11 19.81x
Gildersome 10 116.55x
Haswell 10 65.15x
Huddersfield 10 9.62x
Markfield 10 252.53x
Pittington 10 166.11x
Westoe 10 8.24x
Witton Gilbert 10 118.20x
Althorpe 9 343.51x
Bishopwearmouth 9 4.90x
Cowpen 9 36.48x
Great Lumley 9 245.23x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 9 14.07x
Waldridge 9 250.70x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 8 12.04x
Brandon Byshottles 8 29.82x
Cramlington 8 56.54x
Great Little Marsden 8 20.44x
Holmside 8 151.52x
Monkwearmouth Shore 8 19.13x
Doncaster 7 13.43x
Holy Trinity 7 4.08x
Barton 6 472.44x
Bournmoor 6 178.57x
Elswick 6 7.02x
Fletton 6 131.29x
Middlesbrough 6 6.46x
Monks Coppenhall 6 10.01x
Selston 6 55.35x
Chilton 5 74.74x
Framwellgate 5 39.40x
Hinckley 5 26.41x
Hunwick Helmington 5 97.28x
Lenton 5 21.87x
Radford 5 10.14x
Seghill 5 95.24x
Stockton On Tees 5 4.84x
Thurmaston 5 354.61x
Weetslade 5 267.38x
Westgate 5 7.54x
Barrow In Furness 4 3.44x
Burradon In Tynemouth 4 145.99x
Cornforth 4 63.39x
Farnley In Bramley 4 44.89x
Jesmond 4 26.54x
Loughborough 4 11.04x
Margam 4 28.61x
Newbottle 4 34.19x
North Bailey South 4 377.36x
Seaton Delaval 4 42.51x
Southcoates 4 10.10x
Tinsley 4 160.00x
Brancepeth 3 77.12x
Chopwell 3 75.38x
Coxhoe 3 49.34x
Dawdon 3 11.39x
Dronfield 3 20.78x
Ibstock 3 51.72x
Kirk Bramwith 3 697.67x
Leeds 3 0.74x
Shotton 3 56.60x
St Mary 3 62.89x
Sutton Stoneferry 3 14.70x
Washington 3 33.41x
Houghton Le Spring 2 13.50x
Warden 2 91.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 43
Elizabeth 41
Sarah 27
Annie 19
Jane 19
Hannah 17
Ann 16
Isabella 15
Margaret 12
Ellen 8
Esther 7
Clara 6
Eliza 6
Catherine 5
Eleanor 5
Susannah 5
Alice 4
Emily 4
Harriet 4
Kate 4
Lucy 4
Dorothy 3
Elisabeth 3
Emma 3
Frances 3
Grace 3
Minnie 3
Ada 2
Adelaide 2
Amy 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Ellenor 2
Florence 2
Isa. 2
Lousia 2
Margret 2
Maria 2
Pheobe 2
Rose 2
Anne 1
Caroline 1
Cathrine 1
Cecilia 1
Eliz.Ann 1
Elizth.A. 1
John 1
Lavinia 1
Leah 1
Tilly 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 48
William 40
Thomas 32
George 27
James 26
Robert 25
Henry 13
Joseph 13
Edward 11
Richard 10
Matthew 7
Alexander 6
Alfred 6
Andrew 5
Charles 5
Samuel 5
Walter 5
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Christopher 4
Cuthbert 4
Ralph 4
Francis 3
Fred 3
Jno. 3
Timothy 3
Wm. 3
Benjamin 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Martin 2
Mathew 2
Nicholas 2
Oliver 2
Stephen 2
Wilfred 2
Absalam 1
Asher 1
C. 1
Earnest 1
Elizabeth 1
Geo. 1
Guy 1
H... 1
Johnstone 1
Jonothan 1
Joshoua 1
Levi 1

FAQ

Barrass surname: questions and answers

How common was the Barrass surname in 1881?

In 1881, 740 people were recorded with the Barrass surname. That placed it at #4,951 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Barrass surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,086 in 2016. That gives Barrass a modern rank of #3,101.

What does the Barrass surname mean?

An occupational surname deriving from the Old French word "barate", meaning a barrel maker.

What does the Barrass map show?

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