NameCensus.

UK surname

Barrington

A locational surname referring to various places in England derived from Old English elements meaning "barley farmstead."

In the 1881 census there were 977 people recorded with the Barrington surname, ranking it #3,981 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,834, ranked #3,459, up from #3,981 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Stoke St Gregory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan, Taunton Deane and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barrington is 1,895 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 87.7%.

1881 census count

977

Ranked #3,981

Modern count

1,834

2016, ranked #3,459

Peak year

2014

1,895 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Barrington had 977 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,981 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,834 in 2016, ranked #3,459.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,372 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Barrington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barrington surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barrington 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 598 #4,284
1861 historical 608 #4,371
1881 historical 977 #3,981
1891 historical 1,046 #4,002
1901 historical 1,246 #3,973
1911 historical 1,372 #3,503
1997 modern 1,768 #3,382
1998 modern 1,884 #3,322
1999 modern 1,866 #3,373
2000 modern 1,822 #3,425
2001 modern 1,795 #3,398
2002 modern 1,806 #3,441
2003 modern 1,804 #3,390
2004 modern 1,821 #3,363
2005 modern 1,765 #3,431
2006 modern 1,768 #3,427
2007 modern 1,801 #3,402
2008 modern 1,808 #3,423
2009 modern 1,861 #3,411
2010 modern 1,893 #3,432
2011 modern 1,831 #3,483
2012 modern 1,808 #3,462
2013 modern 1,855 #3,439
2014 modern 1,895 #3,401
2015 modern 1,854 #3,440
2016 modern 1,834 #3,459

Geography

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Where Barringtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Stoke St Gregory and Wigan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wigan, Taunton Deane, Herefordshire and Sevenoaks. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Stoke St Gregory Somerset
4 London parishes London 3
5 Wigan Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wigan 017 Wigan
2 Taunton Deane 014 Taunton Deane
3 Herefordshire 002 Herefordshire, County of
4 Herefordshire 003 Herefordshire, County of
5 Sevenoaks 013 Sevenoaks

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barrington

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barrington

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Barrington is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Barrington is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Barrington falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Barrington is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Barrington

The surname Barrington is an English locational name derived from the place name Barrington, which is found in various locations across England. The name is believed to have originated in the 11th century and is thought to be derived from the Old English words "bær" meaning "grove" or "barley" and "ing" meaning "people of", suggesting it referred to people living near a barley grove or groveland.

The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the 11th century Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Barentone" and "Berintone", referring to locations in Gloucestershire and Cambridgeshire. Other early spellings include "Barynton", "Baryntone", and "Barryngton".

One of the earliest notable bearers of the name was Sir John Barrington (c. 1320-1400), who served as a judge and was appointed to the King's Bench in 1365 by Edward III. Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Barrington (c. 1370-1428), a member of Parliament and High Sheriff of Essex.

In the 16th century, Sir Francis Barrington (1528-1600) was a notable English landowner and Member of Parliament for Essex. His son, Sir John Barrington (1591-1644), was a lawyer and author who wrote works on English law.

During the 17th century, John Shute Barrington (1678-1734) was a distinguished English statesman and politician who served as Lord Privy Seal and as a member of the Cabinet under King George I and King George II.

Another notable bearer of the name was Samuel Barrington (1729-1800), a British naval officer who served in the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. He was also a member of the prestigious Order of the Bath.

The name Barrington has been associated with various places in England, including Barrington in Cambridgeshire, Barrington in Gloucestershire, Barrington in Somerset, and Great Barrington in Oxfordshire. These locations likely contributed to the widespread use of the surname across different regions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Barrington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barrington 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. Lancashire leads with 210 Barringtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.86x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 210 1.86x
Middlesex 163 1.72x
Somerset 122 7.98x
Surrey 62 1.34x
Gloucestershire 53 2.84x
Herefordshire 33 8.47x
Wiltshire 31 3.69x
Cheshire 30 1.43x
Kent 28 0.86x
Glamorgan 27 1.63x
Hampshire 25 1.28x
Warwickshire 25 1.04x
Worcestershire 19 1.53x
Devon 18 0.91x
Yorkshire 18 0.19x
Staffordshire 14 0.44x
Northamptonshire 11 1.23x
Leicestershire 10 0.95x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.62x
Berkshire 7 0.98x
Brecknockshire 7 3.68x
Durham 7 0.25x
Sussex 7 0.44x
Bedfordshire 4 0.81x
Derbyshire 4 0.27x
Montgomeryshire 4 1.84x
Hertfordshire 3 0.46x
Lanarkshire 3 0.10x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.35x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.50x
Dumfriesshire 2 0.95x
Essex 2 0.11x
Midlothian 2 0.16x
Norfolk 2 0.14x
Suffolk 2 0.17x
Denbighshire 1 0.28x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.39x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.53x
Lincolnshire 1 0.07x
Monmouthshire 1 0.15x
Oxfordshire 1 0.17x
Royal Navy 1 0.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke St Gregory in Somerset leads with 37 Barringtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 797.41x.

Place Total Index
Stoke St Gregory 37 797.41x
Hackney London 28 5.26x
Salford 24 7.24x
Bethnal Green London 21 5.09x
Bermondsey 20 7.07x
Manchester 19 3.75x
Bradford 15 28.43x
Sutton Benger 15 1293.10x
Battersea 14 4.00x
Lambeth 14 1.69x
Stoke Newington London 14 18.92x
Droylsden 13 35.35x
Liverpool 13 1.90x
Birmingham 12 1.50x
Creech St Michael 12 314.96x
Llandaff 12 21.80x
St George In East London 12 13.43x
Walcot 12 14.73x
Hindley 11 22.88x
Newton 11 12.66x
Stoke Prior 11 617.98x
Bristol St James In 10 36.50x
Leominster 10 62.03x
Stockport 10 9.27x
Toxteth Park 10 2.62x
Westleigh 10 39.06x
Bodenham 9 313.59x
Mile End Old Town London 9 4.45x
Pendleton In Salford 9 6.70x
Shoreditch London 9 2.19x
St George Hanover Square 9 5.38x
Wigan 9 5.71x
Worsley 9 12.95x
Aston 8 1.21x
Brackley St Peter 8 130.51x
Chilton Trinity 8 1481.48x
Crawley 8 540.54x
Dudley 8 5.30x
Nettleton 8 606.06x
North Curry 8 153.85x
Pennard 8 919.54x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 7 7.98x
Bootle Cum Linacre 7 7.82x
Brecknock St John 7 43.70x
Garston 7 21.04x
Hurdsfield 7 54.22x
Kings Norton 7 6.29x
Lidford 7 78.83x
Portsea 7 1.83x
Tottenham 7 4.63x
West Derby 7 2.12x
Woolwich 7 5.84x
Baltonsborough 6 262.01x
Bitton Oldland 6 31.50x
Chelsea London 6 2.10x
Kensington London 6 1.14x
Newington 6 1.71x
Paddington London 6 1.72x
Reddish 6 38.63x
Spitalfields London 6 8.40x
St Marylebone London 6 1.18x
St Pancras London 6 0.78x
Walsall Foreign 6 3.62x
Winscombe 6 145.28x
Belgrave 5 21.03x
Blackburn 5 1.67x
Bristol St James St Paul 5 8.05x
Brompton Ralph 5 362.32x
Leicester St Margaret 5 1.95x
Lewisham 5 2.89x
Moston 5 44.21x
Newcastle Higher 5 44.52x
Nottingham St Mary 5 1.51x
Sutton Coldfield 5 19.85x
West Wickham 5 159.74x
Combe St Nicholas 4 108.11x
Little Bolton 4 2.76x
Newtown 4 28.74x
Westbury On Severn East 4 9.49x
Westbury On Trym 4 6.34x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 56
John 54
Thomas 37
George 34
James 29
Charles 24
Arthur 16
Henry 16
Edward 13
Frederick 12
Alfred 11
Richard 10
Robert 10
Walter 10
Albert 9
Joseph 9
Frank 8
Wm. 8
Samuel 7
Benjamin 5
Harry 5
Peter 5
Herbert 4
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Mark 3
Philip 3
Roger 3
Benedict 2
Daniel 2
Douglas 2
Earnest 2
Geo. 2
Gilbert 2
Isaac 2
Patrick 2
Phillip 2
Sidney 2
B. 1
Caleb 1
Cecil 1
Charlie 1
Chas. 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Edwad 1
Elizabeth 1
Jno. 1
Klys 1
Ythil 1

FAQ

Barrington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Barrington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 977 people were recorded with the Barrington surname. That placed it at #3,981 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Barrington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,834 in 2016. That gives Barrington a modern rank of #3,459.

What does the Barrington surname mean?

A locational surname referring to various places in England derived from Old English elements meaning "barley farmstead."

What does the Barrington map show?

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