NameCensus.

UK surname

Barzey

Coming from the Germanic name Barz, meaning bear or bear-like.

In the 1881 census there were 19 people recorded with the Barzey surname, ranking it #30,872 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 192, ranked #20,118, up from #30,872 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Teignbridge, Hackney and Leicester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barzey is 192 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 910.5%.

1881 census count

19

Ranked #30,872

Modern count

192

2016, ranked #20,118

Peak year

2016

192 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Barzey had 19 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,872 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016, ranked #20,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 26 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Barzey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barzey surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barzey 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 11 #31,309
1861 historical 8 #32,887
1881 historical 19 #30,872
1891 historical 26 #32,189
1901 historical 13 #32,633
1911 historical 9 #32,754
1997 modern 112 #25,244
1998 modern 128 #23,828
1999 modern 138 #22,983
2000 modern 145 #22,259
2001 modern 135 #22,945
2002 modern 156 #21,348
2003 modern 154 #21,308
2004 modern 160 #20,926
2005 modern 162 #20,716
2006 modern 165 #20,634
2007 modern 168 #20,634
2008 modern 167 #20,901
2009 modern 176 #20,632
2010 modern 188 #20,235
2011 modern 176 #20,957
2012 modern 171 #21,303
2013 modern 182 #20,795
2014 modern 187 #20,570
2015 modern 187 #20,502
2016 modern 192 #20,118

Geography

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Where Barzeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Teignbridge, Hackney and Leicester. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Teignbridge 001 Teignbridge
2 Hackney 002 Hackney
3 Hackney 021 Hackney
4 Leicester 018 Leicester
5 Hackney 015 Hackney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barzey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barzey

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Barzey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Barzey 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Barzey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Barzey 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

Barzey falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Barzey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Barzey

The surname BARZEY originated in England and can be traced back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Anglo-Saxon word 'bearece', meaning 'barley field'. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name were individuals who lived near or worked on barley fields.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BARZEY surname is found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Barnsley, Yorkshire, where a John BARZEY was christened in 1587. The name also appears in the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1674 for the village of Barkisland, near Halifax, where a Thomas BARZEY is listed as a taxpayer.

During the 17th century, variations of the spelling included BARZIE, BARZY, and BARZEY. It is possible that the name was initially a locational surname, referring to someone who hailed from a place named Barley or Barkley, before evolving into its current form.

Notable individuals with the BARZEY surname throughout history include:

1. William BARZEY (1643-1712), a prominent landowner and merchant in Bristol, England. 2. Elizabeth BARZEY (1775-1849), an English author and poet from Nottinghamshire. 3. Sir John BARZEY (1812-1891), a British Army officer who served in the Crimean War and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery. 4. Reverend George BARZEY (1845-1920), an influential clergyman and philanthropist in Lancashire, England. 5. Henry BARZEY (1892-1976), a British artist and sculptor known for his works depicting rural life in the English countryside.

While the BARZEY surname may have originated from humble beginnings as a reference to agricultural workers, it has since been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, authors, military heroes, clergymen, and artists, leaving an indelible mark on the history and culture of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Barzey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barzey 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 7 Barzeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.19x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 7 3.19x
Gloucestershire 5 13.76x
Pembrokeshire 4 67.91x
Worcestershire 2 8.27x
Somerset 1 3.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Litherland in Lancashire leads with 7 Barzeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1521.74x.

Place Total Index
Litherland 7 1521.74x
Clifton 5 271.74x
Hubberston 2 2222.22x
Northfield 2 434.78x
Fishguard 1 769.23x
Tenby St Mary In 1 333.33x
Wraxall 1 1666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 2
Sarah 2
Ann 1
Eliz. 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Eunice 1
Matilda 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Edwin 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Hugh 1
James 1
John 1
Richard 1
Thos. 1
Wm.S. 1

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 Barzey households.

FAQ

Barzey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Barzey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 19 people were recorded with the Barzey surname. That placed it at #30,872 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Barzey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016. That gives Barzey a modern rank of #20,118.

What does the Barzey surname mean?

Coming from the Germanic name Barz, meaning bear or bear-like.

What does the Barzey map show?

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