UK surname
A surname potentially derived from the Russian word "bar" meaning "lord" or "master."
In the 1881 census there were 31 people recorded with the Bars surname, ranking it #29,218 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 25, ranked #36,324, down from #29,218 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Topsham, Newport Pagnell and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bars is 142 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 19.4%.
1881 census count
31
Ranked #29,218
Modern count
25
2016, ranked #36,324
Peak year
1891
142 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bars surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bars 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 | 39 | #26,319 |
| 1861 | historical | 105 | #20,298 |
| 1881 | historical | 31 | #29,218 |
| 1891 | historical | 142 | #18,995 |
| 1901 | historical | 38 | #29,914 |
| 1911 | historical | 37 | #29,263 |
| 1997 | modern | 11 | #36,912 |
| 1998 | modern | 12 | #36,790 |
| 1999 | modern | 12 | #36,806 |
| 2000 | modern | 15 | #36,425 |
| 2001 | modern | 15 | #36,265 |
| 2002 | modern | 15 | #36,381 |
| 2003 | modern | 19 | #36,011 |
| 2004 | modern | 21 | #35,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 22 | #35,993 |
| 2006 | modern | 19 | #36,323 |
| 2007 | modern | 21 | #36,290 |
| 2008 | modern | 21 | #36,355 |
| 2009 | modern | 19 | #36,603 |
| 2010 | modern | 21 | #36,530 |
| 2011 | modern | 19 | #36,668 |
| 2012 | modern | 19 | #36,641 |
| 2013 | modern | 24 | #36,344 |
| 2014 | modern | 24 | #36,358 |
| 2015 | modern | 23 | #36,424 |
| 2016 | modern | 25 | #36,324 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Topsham, Newport Pagnell, St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford, St John Hampstead and Sheffield. 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 | Topsham | Devon |
| 2 | Newport Pagnell | Buckinghamshire |
| 3 | St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | St John Hampstead | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Sheffield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bars 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 Bars, 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 Bars surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bars 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, Bars 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 Bars is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bars, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "BARS" is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "bars," which referred to the bars or lattices used in the construction of buildings. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for someone who worked with bars or lattices, perhaps a builder or carpenter.
In the early records, the name appeared with variations in spelling, such as "Bares," "Barres," and "Barrs." One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a certain William Bares is mentioned.
During the Middle Ages, the surname "BARS" can be found in various historical documents, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which lists a Robert de Bares. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 also mention a John Bares.
In the 14th century, the name appears in the Inquisitiones Post Mortem of Herefordshire, where a Thomas Barres is recorded as holding land in the village of Burghill in 1362. This suggests that the family may have been landowners or members of the gentry during this period.
One notable individual with the surname "BARS" was William Barres, a English clergyman and academic who lived in the late 15th century. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1480 to 1481.
Another prominent figure was Sir John Bars (c. 1548-1625), an English politician and Member of Parliament who represented Worcestershire in the House of Commons during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
In the 17th century, the name can be found in the Parish Registers of Gloucestershire, with the baptism of John Bars recorded in the village of Newent in 1636.
One of the earliest known occurrences of the surname in the United States comes from the records of Massachusetts Bay Colony, where a John Bars is mentioned as residing in Salem in 1639.
Another noteworthy individual was James Bars (1682-1743), a British naval officer who served as a captain in the Royal Navy during the early 18th century and participated in several battles against the Spanish and French fleets.
Throughout its history, the surname "BARS" has been associated with various place names, such as Barrs Court in Gloucestershire and Barrs Hill in Worcestershire, which may have contributed to the development of the name in different regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bars 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. Middlesex leads with 11 Bars' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.76x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 11 | 3.76x |
| Surrey | 8 | 5.61x |
| Essex | 5 | 8.66x |
| Huntingdonshire | 3 | 51.64x |
| Devon | 1 | 1.64x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 2.14x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 2.81x |
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 6 Bars' recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.49x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Pancras London | 6 | 25.49x |
| Battersea | 4 | 37.17x |
| Westminster St John | 4 | 112.36x |
| Buckden | 3 | 3000.00x |
| Camberwell | 3 | 16.06x |
| Barking | 2 | 118.34x |
| West Ham | 2 | 15.70x |
| Great Burstead | 1 | 476.19x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 13.89x |
| Holbeach | 1 | 192.31x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 3.92x |
| Palgrave | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Seaton | 1 | 434.78x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bars 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 Bars 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 Bars households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Annuitant | 2 |
| Ag Labourer | 1 |
| Barman | 1 |
| Brewerys Labourer | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Commercial Agent In (Forwarding Goods Of All Sorts Abroad) | 1 |
| Draper | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Horsekeeper (Ag Lab) | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Mantle Maker | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Ostler | 1 |
| Printer | 1 |
| Printers Appt | 1 |
| Serv (Dom) | 1 |
| Tuner (Pianoforte) | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 31 people were recorded with the Bars surname. That placed it at #29,218 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 25 in 2016. That gives Bars a modern rank of #36,324.
A surname potentially derived from the Russian word "bar" meaning "lord" or "master."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bars 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.