NameCensus.

UK surname

Barrs

An English surname derived from the Middle English word for a hedge or barrier.

In the 1881 census there were 470 people recorded with the Barrs surname, ranking it #7,098 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 680, ranked #7,884, down from #7,098 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Gloucestershire, North West Leicestershire and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barrs is 715 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.7%.

1881 census count

470

Ranked #7,098

Modern count

680

2016, ranked #7,884

Peak year

1911

715 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Barrs had 470 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,098 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 680 in 2016, ranked #7,884.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 715 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Barrs surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barrs surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barrs 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 328 #7,098
1861 historical 325 #7,835
1881 historical 470 #7,098
1891 historical 513 #7,274
1901 historical 688 #6,370
1911 historical 715 #5,975
1997 modern 635 #7,808
1998 modern 694 #7,523
1999 modern 689 #7,612
2000 modern 698 #7,506
2001 modern 679 #7,532
2002 modern 687 #7,625
2003 modern 640 #7,911
2004 modern 662 #7,731
2005 modern 640 #7,855
2006 modern 646 #7,844
2007 modern 649 #7,873
2008 modern 653 #7,890
2009 modern 688 #7,744
2010 modern 707 #7,724
2011 modern 689 #7,782
2012 modern 686 #7,717
2013 modern 694 #7,782
2014 modern 686 #7,905
2015 modern 690 #7,811
2016 modern 680 #7,884

Geography

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Where Barrs' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Gloucestershire, North West Leicestershire, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Hinckley and Bosworth and Wolverhampton. 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 London parishes London 3
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth Leicestershire
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Gloucestershire 011 South Gloucestershire
2 North West Leicestershire 011 North West Leicestershire
3 Newcastle-under-Lyme 012 Newcastle-under-Lyme
4 Hinckley and Bosworth 001 Hinckley and Bosworth
5 Wolverhampton 012 Wolverhampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barrs

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barrs

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Barrs is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Barrs is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Barrs falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Barrs 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 Barrs, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Barrs

The surname BARRS is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English word "byras" meaning "hut" or "cottage". It is believed to have originated in the 7th century AD in the region of northern England. The name was likely initially used as a topographic surname, referring to someone who lived in or near a small dwelling or cottage.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname BARRS can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conquer. The name appeared in various spellings such as "Barre", "Bares", and "Barres".

In the 13th century, the surname BARRS was well-established in several counties in northern England, including Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Northumberland. One notable individual from this period was John de Barres, a landowner and knight who lived in Yorkshire in the late 13th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname BARRS spread to other parts of England, as well as to Scotland and Ireland. One prominent figure from this time was Sir John Barrs (1567-1635), an English soldier and diplomat who served under Queen Elizabeth I and King James I.

In the 18th century, the surname BARRS was found in various parts of the British Isles, including the counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, Northumberland, and Ayrshire in Scotland. A notable individual from this period was William Barrs (1728-1804), a Scottish merchant and landowner who owned extensive properties in Ayrshire.

The 19th century saw the surname BARRS spread to other parts of the world, particularly to North America, Australia, and New Zealand, as a result of British immigration. One famous bearer of the name from this period was Thomas Barrs (1810-1892), an Irish-born American politician who served as the 12th Governor of Massachusetts.

Other notable individuals with the surname BARRS throughout history include:

1. Sir David Barrs (1890-1970), a British diplomat and ambassador to the Soviet Union. 2. Robert Barrs (1808-1863), a Scottish-born Australian pastoralist and landowner. 3. Jonathan Barrs (1755-1825), an American Revolutionary War soldier and farmer. 4. Elizabeth Barrs (1856-1924), a British author and educator. 5. Henry Barrs (1678-1748), an English clergyman and author.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Barrs families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barrs 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. Leicestershire leads with 109 Barrs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.44x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 109 21.44x
Warwickshire 76 6.57x
Middlesex 74 1.61x
Surrey 36 1.61x
Staffordshire 32 2.07x
Huntingdonshire 19 20.87x
Yorkshire 17 0.37x
Derbyshire 12 1.67x
Cambridgeshire 9 3.10x
Worcestershire 8 1.34x
Berkshire 7 2.03x
Kent 7 0.45x
Northamptonshire 7 1.62x
Lancashire 6 0.11x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.97x
Shropshire 6 1.51x
Essex 5 0.55x
Norfolk 5 0.71x
Hertfordshire 4 1.27x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 6.03x
Lincolnshire 4 0.55x
Bedfordshire 3 1.26x
Herefordshire 3 1.60x
Somerset 3 0.41x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.72x
Hampshire 2 0.21x
Sussex 2 0.26x
Glamorgan 1 0.13x
Gloucestershire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 30 Barrs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.13x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 30 8.13x
Aston 24 7.54x
Birmingham 17 4.41x
Battersea 16 9.48x
Great Staughton 15 847.46x
Spitalfields London 14 40.60x
Barrow Upon Soar 11 261.90x
Nuneaton 11 82.15x
Thrussington 11 1145.83x
Foleshill 10 82.24x
Leicester Black Friars 10 302.11x
Rowley Regis 9 20.87x
Bethnal Green London 8 4.02x
Chatteris 8 107.96x
Nailstone 8 689.66x
Peckleton 8 1904.76x
Lambeth 7 1.75x
Mile End Old Town London 7 7.17x
Mountsorrel 7 769.23x
Narborough 7 503.60x
New Windsor 7 60.50x
Newbold Verdon 7 598.29x
Newcastle Under Lyme 7 25.57x
Arnold 6 66.52x
Repton 6 221.40x
Wolverhampton 6 5.04x
Alfreton 5 22.93x
Dudley 5 6.87x
Eston 5 50.51x
Greenwich 5 6.85x
Hampstead London 5 7.00x
Quorndon 5 175.44x
Wakefield 5 14.33x
Whitwick 5 77.40x
Wimbledon 5 19.94x
Bushey 4 53.19x
Cadeby 4 1666.67x
Darlaston 4 18.70x
Fen Stanton 4 238.10x
Fillongley 4 242.42x
Mountsorrel South End 4 547.95x
Ringstead 4 266.67x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 4.34x
Urr 4 46.35x
Walpole St Andrew 4 363.64x
Wanstead 4 25.24x
Barton Upon Irwell 3 7.32x
Bromyard 3 120.97x
Coreley 3 306.12x
Glenfield 3 303.03x
Kirby Muxloe 3 500.00x
Leicester St Mary 3 7.30x
Mountsorrel North End 3 306.12x
Polesworth 3 54.64x
Richmond 3 9.58x
Sedgley 3 5.22x
Aspull 2 15.63x
Bow Brickhill 2 277.78x
Brompton Rhiston 2 769.23x
Doddington 2 833.33x
Goole 2 26.28x
Hartwell 2 253.16x
Islington London 2 0.45x
Little Staughton 2 270.27x
Millbrook 2 8.45x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.48x
St George In East London 2 4.64x
Walcot 2 5.09x
Wolston Marston 2 229.89x
Barking 1 3.78x
Chelsea London 1 0.72x
Gainsborough 1 5.79x
Handsworth 1 2.62x
Ilkley 1 13.48x
Leicester St Margaret 1 0.81x
Leicester St Martin 1 29.33x
Monk Bretton 1 21.74x
Osbaston 1 294.12x
Paddington London 1 0.59x
Rillington 1 72.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 28
Mary 25
Emma 13
Elizabeth 12
Ellen 8
Maria 8
Annie 7
Eliza 7
Alice 6
Ann 6
Anne 6
Emily 5
Lucy 5
Martha 5
Catherine 4
Harriet 4
Jane 4
Elizth. 3
Harriett 3
Louisa 3
Rose 3
Agnes 2
Caroline 2
Cecelia 2
Fanny 2
Flora 2
Florance 2
Gertrude 2
Kate 2
Rebecca 2
Rosa 2
Sophia 2
Susannah 2
Amelia 1
Anelia 1
Angleina 1
Beatrice 1
Edith 1
Ester 1
Estha 1
Fanney 1
Isabella 1
Josephine 1
Keren 1
Laura 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Lois 1
Lousia 1
Thurza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 40
William 29
George 22
Thomas 21
Alfred 13
Charles 13
Walter 10
Arthur 8
Joseph 7
Robert 7
Henry 6
Edward 5
Herbert 5
Frederick 4
James 4
Samuel 4
Abraham 3
Michael 3
Thos. 3
Wm. 3
Ernest 2
Harry 2
A. 1
Albert 1
Benjiman 1
Chas. 1
Clifton 1
Cyrus 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Elijah 1
Emanuel 1
Frank 1
Harwood 1
Henrey 1
Howard 1
Israel 1
Job 1
Jonas 1
Kenneth 1
Matthew 1
Oliver 1
Richard 1
Stephen 1

FAQ

Barrs surname: questions and answers

How common was the Barrs surname in 1881?

In 1881, 470 people were recorded with the Barrs surname. That placed it at #7,098 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Barrs surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 680 in 2016. That gives Barrs a modern rank of #7,884.

What does the Barrs surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Middle English word for a hedge or barrier.

What does the Barrs map show?

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