NameCensus.

UK surname

Barry

An occupational surname for a gate keeper, derived from the Middle English "barry" meaning "gate or gateway."

In the 1881 census there were 5,349 people recorded with the Barry surname, ranking it #833 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12,056, ranked #542, up from #833 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bristol, Cardiff and Allerdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barry is 12,183 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 125.4%.

1881 census count

5,349

Ranked #833

Modern count

12,056

2016, ranked #542

Peak year

2014

12,183 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Barry had 5,349 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #833 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 12,056 in 2016, ranked #542.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,042 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Barry surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barry surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barry 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 3,189 #904
1861 historical 4,172 #673
1881 historical 5,349 #833
1891 historical 5,570 #846
1901 historical 5,936 #934
1911 historical 6,042 #856
1997 modern 10,947 #564
1998 modern 11,398 #561
1999 modern 11,424 #567
2000 modern 11,328 #566
2001 modern 11,079 #566
2002 modern 11,305 #564
2003 modern 11,061 #563
2004 modern 11,046 #565
2005 modern 10,900 #568
2006 modern 10,968 #561
2007 modern 11,137 #558
2008 modern 11,254 #556
2009 modern 11,625 #558
2010 modern 12,042 #549
2011 modern 11,877 #551
2012 modern 11,710 #550
2013 modern 12,057 #546
2014 modern 12,183 #544
2015 modern 12,089 #544
2016 modern 12,056 #542

Geography

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Where Barrys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, St Pancras and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bristol, Cardiff, Allerdale and Caerphilly. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bristol 045 Bristol, City of
2 Cardiff 033 Cardiff
3 Cardiff 020 Cardiff
4 Allerdale 009 Allerdale
5 Caerphilly 020 Caerphilly

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barry

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barry

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Barry surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Barry household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Barry 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

Barry is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Barry

The surname Barry is of Anglo-Norman origin, derived from the Old French word "barre" meaning a barrier or tollgate. It is believed to have originated in Normandy, France, before being brought to England by Norman settlers after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

In England, the name was initially associated with individuals who lived near or were responsible for maintaining a tollgate or barrier. The earliest known record of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Barre" in various counties including Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, the name evolved to take on various spellings such as Barry, Bary, and Barri. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was William de Barry, who lived in the 12th century and held lands in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

Another notable figure was Gerald de Barry, also known as Giraldus Cambrensis (c. 1146-1223), a renowned Welsh cleric, author, and historian. He wrote extensively about the Norman conquest of Ireland and is considered one of the most important medieval writers in Britain.

In Ireland, the name Barry became prominent during the Anglo-Norman invasion of the late 12th century. One of the most illustrious families bearing this name was the Barry family of County Cork, who traces their ancestry back to Philip de Barry, a Norman knight who accompanied King Henry II to Ireland in 1171. The Barry family played a significant role in Irish history and held influential positions in the region for centuries.

In the United States, the Barry surname can be traced back to early colonial times. One of the first recorded individuals with this name was John Barry (c. 1745-1803), known as the "Father of the American Navy." He was an Irish-born merchant mariner and naval officer who became the first commissioned officer in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War.

Other notable individuals with the surname Barry include: 1. James Barry (c. 1789-1865), an Irish physician who lived as a man and was renowned for performing one of the first successful cesarean sections in the British Empire. 2. Sir Charles Barry (1795-1860), an English architect best known for designing the Houses of Parliament in London. 3. Marie Barry (1917-2014), an American film and television actress who appeared in numerous productions during the Golden Age of Hollywood. 4. John Barry (1933-2011), an English composer and conductor who won multiple Academy Awards for his film scores, including "Born Free" and "Dances with Wolves."

The surname Barry has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been borne by many notable figures across various fields. Its origins can be traced back to the Norman settlers in England and their subsequent expansion into Ireland, where it became a prominent name associated with powerful families and influential individuals.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Barry families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barry 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. Middlesex leads with 1,297 Barrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.46x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1,297 2.46x
Lancashire 751 1.20x
Glamorgan 446 4.85x
Surrey 442 1.72x
Kent 248 1.38x
Yorkshire 239 0.46x
Monmouthshire 182 4.77x
Durham 166 1.06x
Devon 125 1.14x
Hampshire 117 1.08x
Lanarkshire 117 0.68x
Essex 113 1.08x
Somerset 105 1.23x
Gloucestershire 93 0.90x
Cheshire 85 0.73x
Angus 75 1.53x
Midlothian 67 0.95x
Sussex 67 0.75x
Warwickshire 51 0.38x
Channel Islands 41 2.62x
Staffordshire 39 0.22x
Northamptonshire 38 0.76x
Ayrshire 37 0.94x
Royal Navy 33 5.24x
Cornwall 31 0.52x
Cumberland 31 0.68x
Suffolk 31 0.48x
Aberdeenshire 30 0.61x
Dorset 30 0.87x
Derbyshire 28 0.34x
Northumberland 28 0.36x
Lincolnshire 25 0.30x
Renfrewshire 21 0.51x
Berkshire 19 0.48x
Worcestershire 17 0.25x
Carmarthenshire 15 0.67x
Buckinghamshire 14 0.44x
Fife 9 0.29x
Leicestershire 9 0.15x
Wiltshire 9 0.19x
Herefordshire 8 0.37x
Stirlingshire 7 0.36x
Isle of Man 6 0.61x
Pembrokeshire 6 0.36x
Banffshire 5 0.46x
Brecknockshire 5 0.47x
Cardiganshire 5 0.39x
Hertfordshire 5 0.14x
Norfolk 5 0.06x
Perthshire 5 0.21x
Bedfordshire 4 0.15x
Morayshire 4 0.49x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.06x
Shropshire 4 0.09x
Wigtownshire 4 0.57x
Inverness-shire 3 0.19x
Orkney 3 0.52x
Clackmannanshire 2 0.46x
Dumfriesshire 2 0.17x
East Lothian 2 0.29x
Westmorland 2 0.17x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.05x
Denbighshire 1 0.05x
West Lothian 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 101 Barrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.65x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 101 2.65x
St Pancras London 97 2.28x
Cardiff St Mary 96 18.95x
Islington London 86 1.68x
Kensington London 86 2.93x
St George In East London 76 15.30x
Bermondsey 71 4.51x
Lambeth 67 1.45x
Battersea 61 3.14x
Cardiff St John 60 19.97x
Govan 60 1.42x
Manchester 60 2.13x
St Marylebone London 60 2.13x
Camberwell 54 1.60x
Everton 50 2.50x
Stoke Damerel 50 6.50x
Roath 49 11.73x
Swansea Town 47 6.23x
West Derby 47 2.56x
Poplar London 44 4.41x
St Giles In Fields London 44 16.98x
Toxteth Park 44 2.07x
Deptford St Paul 43 3.09x
Chelsea London 41 2.58x
West Ham 41 1.78x
Hackney London 40 1.35x
Hulme 40 3.06x
Shoreditch London 40 1.75x
St Woollos 40 9.39x
Bromley London 35 3.01x
Ratcliffe London 35 12.00x
St Helier 35 6.87x
Hammersmith London 34 2.61x
St Andrew Holborn London 34 14.87x
Whitechapel London 34 6.53x
Brighton 33 1.84x
Merthyr Tydfil 33 3.73x
Woolwich 33 4.96x
Leeds 32 1.08x
Newington 32 1.64x
Royal Navy 32 5.95x
Westminster St John 32 4.97x
Gelligaer 31 14.76x
Birkenhead 29 3.12x
Lewisham 29 3.02x
Fulham London 28 3.66x
Oldham 28 1.38x
Clerkenwell London 27 2.17x
Habergham Eaves 27 4.71x
Bedwellty 26 3.86x
Llandaff 26 8.50x
Newport 26 14.27x
Westminster St Margaret 26 10.20x
Bootle Cum Linacre 24 4.82x
Tottenham 24 2.85x
Frome 23 11.31x
Kirkdale 23 2.18x
Preston 23 1.37x
Rotherhithe 23 3.52x
Southampton St Mary 23 3.38x
Southwark St John 23 14.24x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 23 30.76x
Barony 22 0.51x
Bethnal Green London 22 0.96x
Bishopwearmouth 22 1.63x
Bradford 22 1.74x
Paddington London 22 1.13x
Southwark St George Martyr 22 2.07x
Dundee 21 1.15x
Stockton On Tees 21 2.77x
Westminster St James 21 3.87x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 20 2.19x
Warrington 20 2.69x
Aberavon 19 22.45x
East Ham 19 9.82x
Glasgow 19 0.63x
Leyton Low 19 8.96x
Trevethin 19 5.27x
Mile End Old Town London 18 1.60x
Ystradyfodwg 18 2.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 483
Ellen 165
Elizabeth 160
Margaret 139
Catherine 107
Ann 82
Eliza 72
Sarah 72
Jane 65
Alice 49
Annie 48
Bridget 47
Kate 46
Emma 43
Emily 42
Hannah 38
Louisa 35
Johanna 26
Julia 22
Martha 21
Anne 20
Ada 18
Charlotte 18
Florence 18
Maria 18
Matilda 16
Frances 15
Rose 15
Clara 14
Edith 14
Harriet 14
Caroline 13
Catharine 13
Agnes 12
Isabella 11
Laura 11
Eleanor 10
Lucy 10
Margt. 10
Susan 10
Amy 9
Esther 9
Winifred 9
Gertrude 8
Jessie 8
Helena 7
Honora 7
M. 7
Mabel 7
Rosa 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 391
William 280
James 259
Thomas 174
Edward 97
Patrick 88
Michael 79
Charles 70
Richard 69
George 62
David 57
Henry 45
Robert 41
Joseph 40
Alfred 28
Frederick 28
Daniel 26
Francis 22
Arthur 20
Walter 18
Wm. 18
Peter 15
Ernest 14
Stephen 14
Thos. 13
Albert 12
Dennis 11
Herbert 11
Samuel 10
Frank 9
Harry 9
Edmund 8
Edwin 8
Jeremiah 8
Philip 8
Phillip 8
Bartholomew 7
Christopher 6
Cornelius 6
Fredrick 6
Garrett 6
Harold 6
Richd. 6
Timothy 6
Andrew 5
Edwd. 5
Jas. 5
Lawrence 5
Owen 5
J. 4

Top occupations

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 Barry households.

FAQ

Barry surname: questions and answers

How common was the Barry surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,349 people were recorded with the Barry surname. That placed it at #833 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Barry surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 12,056 in 2016. That gives Barry a modern rank of #542.

What does the Barry surname mean?

An occupational surname for a gate keeper, derived from the Middle English "barry" meaning "gate or gateway."

What does the Barry map show?

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