Barber History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The chronicles of Scottish history reveal that the first people to use the name Barber were the Strathclyde-Britons. The Barber surname is derived from the Anglo-Norman French word “barbier,” in turn from the Late Latin “barbarius,” or “barba, ” meaning “beard.” As such, the medieval barber who not only cut hair and gave shaves, but also practiced surgery and pulled teeth. [1]

Early Origins of the Barber family

The surname Barber was first found in Northumberland, and Cumberland. Some of the first records of the family were Gilbert le Barber or Barbour and Michael le Barber who were Scots prisoners taken at Dunbar Castle in 1296. [1]

The year 1296 is important to note as this was the year that King Edward I of England invaded Scotland. Those on the borders were deeply affected and those who refused to pay homage to the king were often thrown in jail. 

However not all of the family failed to pay homage, as Aleyn le Barbur of the county of Arne did render homage to the invading king. Later in 1305, John Barbitonsor rendered the accounts for the farm of Mountros and a few years later, William Barbitonsor had confirmation of a charter of lands in 1317. 

The famed Robert Bruce granted to Ade Barbitonsor a toft in Moffat with two bovates of land adjoining (presumably the same year) and in 1328 there is entry of a payment to Andrew Barber. [1]

John Barbour (1316?-1395), was the earliest Scottish poet on record and one of the best of the ancient Scottish poets, a contemporary of Chaucer. He was also Archdeacon of Aberdeen. “The date of his birth is conjectural, but his death, on 13 March 1395, is proved by an entry in the obit book of the cathedral, the cessation in that year of a pension conferred on him by Robert II, and other documentary evidence. In 1357 he appears as Archdeacon of Aberdeen in a safe-conduct by Edward III to him and three scholars going to study at Oxford.” [2]

Early History of the Barber family

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

Barber Spelling Variations

In the era before dictionaries, there were no rules governing the spelling or translation of names or any other words. Consequently, there are an enormous number of spelling variationsin Medieval Scottish names. Barber has appeared as Barbour, Barber, Barberton and others.

Barber World Ranking

In the United States, the name Barber is the 335^th most popular surname with an estimated 79,584 people with that name. [3] However, in Canada, the name Barber is ranked the 695^thmost popular surname with an estimated 7,567 people with that name. [4] And in Australia, the name Barber is the 321^st popular surname with an estimated 11,014 people with that name. [5]New Zealand ranks Barber as 515^th with 1,338 people. [6] The United Kingdom ranks Barber as 249^th with 23,946 people. [7]

 Migration of the Barber family to Ireland

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

 Barber migration to the United States +

The freedom, opportunity, and land of the North American colonies beckoned. There, Scots found a place where they were generally free from persecution and where they could go on to become important players in the birth of new nations. Some fought in the American War of Independence, while others went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these Scottish settlers have been able to recover their lost national heritage in the last century through highland games and Clan societies in North America. Among them: 

Barber Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Henry Barber, who landed in Virginia in 1620 [8]
• Ann Barber, who landed in Virginia in 1622 [8]
• Susan Barber, who landed in Virginia in 1623 [8]
• Thomas Barber, aged 21, who landed in New England in 1634 aboard the ship “The Christian” [8]
• William Barber, aged 17, who arrived in Virginia aboard the ship “David” in 1635 [8]

Barber Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Riehd Barber, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 [8]
• William Barber, who landed in Virginia in 1703 [8]
• Tho Barber, who landed in Virginia in 1703 [8]
• Anne Barber, who landed in Virginia in 1704 [8]
• Anna Barber, aged 9, who arrived in New York in 1710 [8

Barber Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Thomas Barber, who landed in America in 1812 [8]
• Pablo Barber, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1820 [8]
• William A Barber, who landed in New York in 1822 [8]
• Eliza Barber, aged 22, who arrived in America in 1822 [8]
• Joseph Barber, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1849 [8]

Barber Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Mr. James Barber, (b. 1868), aged 32, Cornish labourer, from St. Ives, Cornwall travelling aboard the ship “Campania” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 7th July 1900 en route to Braddock, Pennsylvania, USA [9]
• Mr. William Barber, (b. 1847), aged 55, Cornish miner, from Camborne, Cornwall travelling aboard the ship “Celtic” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 29th June 1902 en route to Nevada City, California, USA [9]
• Miss Mary J Barber, (b. 1882), aged 21, Cornish settler, from St. Ives, Cornwall travelling aboard the ship “Campania” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 15th August 1903 en route to Calumet, Michigan, USA [9]
• Miss Johanna Barber, (b. 1860), aged 43, Cornish settler, from St. Ives, Cornwall travelling aboard the ship “Campania” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 15th August 1903 en route to Calumet, Michigan, USA [9]
• Miss Mabel Barber, (b. 1880), aged 24, Cornish settler, from Looe, Cornwall travelling aboard the ship “Oceanic” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 30th March 1904 en route to New York, USA [9]