Show ContentsBarbey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Barbey is derived from a baptismal name meaning son of Barbara. In some instances, the name may have also been a nickname for someone, such as a Moor or Berber, who appeared to be of North African heritage. In such a case the name is a reference to the Barbary Coast of North Africa.

Early Origins of the Barbey family

The surname Barbey was first found in Provence, where the family has held a family seat since very early times.

Early History of the Barbey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barbey research. Another 255 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1782 and 1789 are included under the topic Early Barbey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barbey Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Barbeyrac, Barbérac, Barbeillerac, Barberac, Barberrac, Barbeyrat, Barbérat, Barbeillerat, Barberat, Barberrat, Barberaque, Barberraque, Barbeyraque, Barbérac, Barbeilleraque, Barberracques, Barbey, Barbbey, Barbé, Barbée, Barbbé, Barbbée, Barbeille, Barbet and many more.

Early Notables of the Barbey family

Notable amongst the names at this time was

  • François de Barbeyrac, Count of Saint-Maurice, Lord of Terrefort and of Fougères

Barbey Ranking

In France, the name Barbey is the 2,879th most popular surname with an estimated 2,000 - 2,500 people with that name. 1


United States Barbey migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Barbey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Adrien Barbey, who landed in Mobile County, Ala in 1836 2
  • Andrew Barbey, who arrived in New York in 1839 2
  • Henry Barbey, who landed in Texas in 1850 2
  • G. Barbey, who settled in San Francisco in 1850
  • G. Barbey, who settled in San Francisco in 1852
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Barbey (post 1700) +

  • Daniel Edward Barbey, American Vice Admiral in the United States Navy
  • Bruno Barbey (1941-2020), Moroccan-born French photographer
  • Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly (1808-1889), French writer


The Barbey Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Honestate pulchritude
Motto Translation: Honesty, beauty


  1. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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