Barnes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient name Barnes is a Norman name that would have been developed in England after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. This name was a name given to a small child. The surname springs from the middle English bairn, of the same meaning. [1] [2]

Early Origins of the Barnes family

The surname Barnes was first found in Surrey at Barnes, a parish, in the union of Richmond, W. division of the hundred of Brixton. [3] This parish was originally listed as Berne [4] in the Domesday Book of 1086. 

According to the Saxon Chronicle, Siward Barn was the patriot rebel against William the Conqueror. [5] After that early listing, one of the first records of the name was found in Surrey as Philip de Bernes. [6]

Other early records include: Henry de le Berne in Norfolk; Richard de la Berne in Kent; and William de la Berne in Dorset, all listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. [1] William Bernes was listed in the Assize Rolls of Cheshire in 1380 and Joan Barnes was also listed in Cheshire in 1450. [6]

Early Scottish sources revealed that the name was from “Barnes in the parish of Premnay, Aberdeenshire” [7] where the first record was found in the 15th century as Robert of Bernis, a goldsmith in 1465. [7]

Early History of the Barnes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barnes research.

Barnes Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Barnes were recorded, including Barnes, Barns, Barnis, Bernys, Barness and others.

Early Notables of the Barnes family (pre 1700)

Distinguished members of the family include Robert Barnes (1495-1540), English Protestant divine and martyr, a Norfolk man, born in the neighbourhood of Lynn. “Barnes and his two companions, as heretics, were committed to the flames.” [8] Richard Barnes (1532-1587), Bishop of Durham, born at Bould, near Warrington, in Lancashire, son of John Barnes and Agnes Saunderson, his wife. His son, Barnabe Barnes (1569?-1609), English poet, born in Yorkshire.

Barnes World Ranking

In the United States, the name Barnes is the 79^th most popular surname with an estimated 241,239 people with that name. [9] However, in Canada, the name Barnes is ranked the 335^thmost popular surname with an estimated 13,622 people with that name. [10] And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Barnes is the 35^th popular surname with an estimated 613 people with that name. [11] Australia ranks Barnes as 98^th with 26,001 people. [12] New Zealand ranks Barnes as 161^st with 3,203 people. [13] The United Kingdom ranks Barnes as 93^rd with 50,285 people. [14] South Africa ranks Barnes as 849^th with 8,208 people. [15]

 Migration of the Barnes family to Ireland

Some of the Barnes family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Barnes migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Barnes arrived in North America very early: 

Barnes Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Robert Barnes, who landed in Jamestown, Va in 1607 aboard the “First Supply” [16]
• Phillip Barnes, who landed in Virginia in 1622 [16]
• Edward Barnes, who landed in Virginia in 1623 [16]
• John Barnes, who landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1631 [16]
• Launcelot Barnes, who landed in Virginia in 1632 [16]