UK surname
An English surname denoting someone who lived on infertile or uncultivated land.
In the 1881 census there were 106 people recorded with the Barren surname, ranking it #19,083 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 54, ranked #34,678, down from #19,083 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Shoebury, South, Allendale and Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barren is 287 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 49.1%.
1881 census count
106
Ranked #19,083
Modern count
54
2016, ranked #34,678
Peak year
1861
287 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Barren surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Barren surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 189 | #10,896 |
| 1861 | historical | 287 | #8,773 |
| 1881 | historical | 106 | #19,083 |
| 1891 | historical | 146 | #18,664 |
| 1901 | historical | 139 | #18,876 |
| 1911 | historical | 96 | #23,193 |
| 1997 | modern | 80 | #29,554 |
| 1998 | modern | 81 | #29,849 |
| 1999 | modern | 82 | #29,933 |
| 2000 | modern | 74 | #30,785 |
| 2001 | modern | 67 | #31,297 |
| 2002 | modern | 63 | #32,113 |
| 2003 | modern | 69 | #31,587 |
| 2004 | modern | 66 | #32,079 |
| 2005 | modern | 65 | #32,387 |
| 2006 | modern | 59 | #33,330 |
| 2007 | modern | 57 | #33,800 |
| 2008 | modern | 56 | #34,084 |
| 2009 | modern | 59 | #34,072 |
| 2010 | modern | 60 | #34,205 |
| 2011 | modern | 52 | #34,688 |
| 2012 | modern | 54 | #34,608 |
| 2013 | modern | 54 | #34,666 |
| 2014 | modern | 56 | #34,601 |
| 2015 | modern | 55 | #34,620 |
| 2016 | modern | 54 | #34,678 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Shoebury, South, Allendale, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Harwich Dovercourt and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shoebury, South | Essex |
| 2 | Allendale | Northumberland |
| 3 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 4 | Harwich Dovercourt | Essex |
| 5 | London parishes | London 3 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Barren surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Barren, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Barren surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Barren household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Barren is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Barren is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Barren, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BARREN is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, derived from the Old English word "bǣre," which means "bare" or "barren." It was likely an occupational name given to someone who lived on or worked on unproductive or infertile land.
The earliest recorded instances of the name BARREN can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. In the book, there are references to individuals with the surname BARREN living in various counties, such as Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name BARREN appeared in various historical records and documents, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were administrative records of landholdings in England. The name was also found in the Pipe Rolls, which were records of royal revenue and expenditure.
In the 16th century, the name BARREN was sometimes associated with place names, such as Barren Hill in Gloucestershire and Barren Acres in Bedfordshire. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.
One notable individual with the surname BARREN was Sir John Barren (c. 1450-1518), who was a Member of Parliament for Somerset in the early 16th century. Another was Robert Barren (1577-1645), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.
In the 17th century, the name BARREN appeared in various parish records and court rolls, indicating its continued use and presence across England. One individual of note was Thomas Barren (1625-1691), a merchant and landowner in Gloucestershire.
During the 18th century, the name BARREN was found in various genealogical records and family histories. One notable individual was William Barren (1720-1789), a wealthy landowner and philanthropist from Oxfordshire, who funded the construction of several churches and schools in his local area.
In the 19th century, the name BARREN continued to be documented in census records and birth, marriage, and death registers across England and other parts of the British Isles. One individual of note was James Barren (1801-1879), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Athenaeum Club.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barren surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Durham leads with 18 Barrens recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.85x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 18 | 5.85x |
| Middlesex | 18 | 1.74x |
| Lancashire | 15 | 1.22x |
| Surrey | 11 | 2.18x |
| Kent | 10 | 2.83x |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 0.98x |
| Banffshire | 7 | 32.63x |
| Gloucestershire | 7 | 3.45x |
| Lincolnshire | 3 | 1.81x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 0.88x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 1.04x |
| Inverness-shire | 1 | 3.24x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 1.03x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.72x |
| Westmorland | 1 | 4.40x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 7 Barrens recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.52x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bishopwearmouth | 7 | 26.52x |
| Gamrie | 7 | 292.89x |
| Horfield | 7 | 343.14x |
| Wandsworth | 7 | 70.35x |
| Cornsay | 6 | 722.89x |
| Accrington | 5 | 44.84x |
| Chatham | 5 | 51.55x |
| Manningham | 5 | 39.62x |
| Spitalfields London | 5 | 64.27x |
| Boldon | 4 | 363.64x |
| Shoreditch London | 4 | 8.92x |
| Toxteth Park | 4 | 9.63x |
| Deptford St Paul | 3 | 11.03x |
| Frieston | 3 | 769.23x |
| Liverpool | 3 | 4.03x |
| Preston | 3 | 9.14x |
| Thornaby | 3 | 78.33x |
| Whitechapel London | 3 | 29.44x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 3.03x |
| Hammersmith London | 2 | 7.85x |
| Limehouse London | 2 | 17.62x |
| Monks Coppenhall | 2 | 23.23x |
| Auchterless | 1 | 131.58x |
| Benningholme Grange | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Bradford | 1 | 4.03x |
| Coulsdon | 1 | 108.70x |
| Dores | 1 | 243.90x |
| Edwinstowe | 1 | 303.03x |
| Gillingham | 1 | 13.76x |
| High Barton | 1 | 769.23x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.11x |
| Maidstone | 1 | 9.51x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 2.63x |
| Peterborough | 1 | 14.20x |
| Westminster St John | 1 | 7.94x |
| Wingate | 1 | 47.39x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Barren surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Barren surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Barren households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 15 |
| Coal Miner | 6 |
| Dressmaker | 3 |
| No Work | 3 |
| Book Folder | 2 |
| Bottle Maker | 2 |
| Puddler (Iron) | 2 |
| Architects Clerk | 1 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Button Corder | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cottager | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Farm Labr | 1 |
| Formerly Coachman | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| Groom | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Iron Turner In Works | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Lab Rly | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Licensed Victualler | 1 |
| Machinist | 1 |
| Mangler | 1 |
| Mariners Wife | 1 |
| Member Of Royal College Of Surgeons Eng | 1 |
| Milk Dealer | 1 |
| Milkhouse Manager Seller | 1 |
| Milkhouse Manager Wife | 1 |
| Musician | 1 |
| Private | 1 |
| Railway Gasman | 1 |
| Retired Master Mariner | 1 |
| Shipwrights Apprentice In H M Dockyard | 1 |
| Slater | 1 |
| Weaver Cotton | 1 |
| Woollen Sorter | 1 |
| Worsted Weaver | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 106 people were recorded with the Barren surname. That placed it at #19,083 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 54 in 2016. That gives Barren a modern rank of #34,678.
An English surname denoting someone who lived on infertile or uncultivated land.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Barren bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.