UK surname
A French surname derived from the word "barre" meaning bar or barrier.
In the 1881 census there were 6 people recorded with the Barres surname, ranking it #32,926 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9, ranked #37,705, down from #32,926 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Newcastle All Saints, Walsingham, Little and Whalley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barres is 238 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.0%.
1881 census count
6
Ranked #32,926
Modern count
9
2016, ranked #37,705
Peak year
1861
238 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Barres surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Barres surname density by area, 1891 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 | 43 | #25,518 |
| 1861 | historical | 238 | #10,321 |
| 1881 | historical | 6 | #32,926 |
| 1891 | historical | 133 | #19,870 |
| 1901 | historical | 15 | #32,383 |
| 1911 | historical | 19 | #31,416 |
| 1997 | modern | 16 | #36,292 |
| 1998 | modern | 13 | #36,679 |
| 1999 | modern | 12 | #36,806 |
| 2000 | modern | 12 | #36,749 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 15 | #36,381 |
| 2003 | modern | 14 | #36,512 |
| 2004 | modern | 14 | #36,648 |
| 2005 | modern | 13 | #36,833 |
| 2006 | modern | 10 | #37,224 |
| 2007 | modern | 10 | #37,335 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 10 | #37,446 |
| 2010 | modern | 11 | #37,411 |
| 2011 | modern | 12 | #37,287 |
| 2012 | modern | 10 | #37,509 |
| 2013 | modern | 10 | #37,539 |
| 2014 | modern | 10 | #37,567 |
| 2015 | modern | 9 | #37,684 |
| 2016 | modern | 9 | #37,705 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Newcastle All Saints, Walsingham, Little, Whalley, Aberdare and Tottenhill. 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 | Newcastle All Saints | Northumberland |
| 2 | Walsingham, Little | Norfolk |
| 3 | Whalley | Lancashire |
| 4 | Aberdare | Glamorganshire |
| 5 | Tottenhill | Norfolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Barres 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 Barres, 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 Barres surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Barres 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, Barres 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 Barres is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Barres, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "BARRES" is believed to have originated in France during the early medieval period. It is likely derived from the Old French word "barre," which means "bar" or "barrier." This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname referring to someone who worked at a tollgate or barrier.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Barres." This entry refers to a landowner in Normandy, France, indicating that the name was already in use during the 11th century.
In the 12th century, the name "BARRES" appeared in various records and charters in the region of Burgundy, France. One notable bearer of the name was Guillaume des Barres (born c. 1170), a French knight and troubadour who participated in the Third Crusade.
During the 13th century, the surname spread to other parts of France and evolved into different spellings, such as "Barres" and "Barre." One prominent individual with this name was Etienne de Barres (c. 1235-1299), a French nobleman and military leader who served under King Philip III.
In the 14th century, the name "BARRES" was found in the records of the city of Paris. Jean des Barres (1318-1381) was a famous French jurist and author who served as a counselor to King Charles V.
The surname also made its way to England during the Norman Conquest, where it was anglicized as "Barrow" or "Barrows." One notable English bearer of this name was Sir John Barrow (1764-1848), a British writer and explorer who served as the Second Secretary of the Admiralty.
Over the centuries, the surname "BARRES" has been associated with many other notable individuals from various fields, including military leaders, scholars, artists, and politicians. Some examples include Jean-François Barres (1645-1701), a French painter and engraver, and Joseph Barrow (1806-1845), an English engineer and inventor.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barres 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. Yorkshire leads with 2 Barres' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.45x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 2 | 3.45x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 22.78x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 5.29x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 10.71x |
| Perthshire | 1 | 38.17x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Huddersfield in Yorkshire leads with 2 Barres' recorded in 1881 and an index of 238.10x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Huddersfield | 2 | 238.10x |
| Barony | 1 | 20.92x |
| Forteviot | 1 | 10000.00x |
| St Swithin Lincoln | 1 | 666.67x |
| Winkfield | 1 | 1428.57x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Barres surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Emily | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Barres 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 Barres households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Helper (Groom) Domestic | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Vocalist | 1 |
| Woollen Manufacturer & Yarn Employing 4 Men 6 Women & 4 Boys | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 6 people were recorded with the Barres surname. That placed it at #32,926 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 9 in 2016. That gives Barres a modern rank of #37,705.
A French surname derived from the word "barre" meaning bar or barrier.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Barres 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.