Show ContentsBarnett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The present generation of the Barnett family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived on or near land cleared for cultivation by burning off the forest.

The name may also have been patronymic as in "'the son of Bernard,' or 'Barnard.' The Cistercian monk gave a wonderful impetus in the 13th century to this name, already popular. A large number of Bernards sprang up in Furness after the Abbey came under the Bernardino rule." [1]

Early Origins of the Barnett family

The surname Barnett was first found in Herefordshire at Chipping Barnet, a parish, town, and the head of a union, in the hundred of Cashio. "This place, called also High Barnet, from its situation on the summit of a hill, derives its distinguishing name from the privilege granted to the monks of St. Alban's, of holding a market here. On April 5th, 1471, the decisive battle which terminated in the defeat and death of the Earl of Warwick, and established Edward IV. on the throne, took place on Gladmore Heath, a mile north-west of the town." [2]

Barnet by the Wold is a parish, in the union of Glandford-Brigg, S. division of the wapentake of Yarborough, parts of Lindsey, Lincolnshire, East Barnet is a parish, in the union of Barnet, hundred of Cashio, Herefordshire and Fryern Barnet is a parish, in the union of Barnet, Finsbury division of the hundred of Ossulstone, county of Middlesex. "It is supposed that an abbey anciently existed here from which the place obtained the prefix to its name, and that the old manor-house, now taken down, was the summer residence of the abbots. " [2]

The singular name Bernadus was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 in Huntingdonshire. [3] A few years later, it appeared again in Norfolk (1101-1116.) [4]

With a forename, one the earliest records was that of John Barnet (d. 1373), an English bishop successively of Worcester, Bath and Wells, and Ely, and was chaplain to Thomas Lisle. [5]

Early History of the Barnett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barnett research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1760, 1799, 1806, 1807, 1816, 1820, 1836 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Barnett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barnett Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Barnett include Barnett, Barnette, Barnet and others.

Early Notables of the Barnett family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • James Barnett (c. 1760-1836), an English banker and Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons and a Member of Parliament for Rochester (1806-1807) and (1816-1820.)
  • Thomas Barnett (1799-1890), born in Birmingham, England, moved to Canada in the 1820s to become a museum proprietor, collector and innkeeper who managed museums and other tourist attractions in Niagar...

Barnett World Ranking

In the United States, the name Barnett is the 275th most popular surname with an estimated 96,993 people with that name. [6] However, in Australia, the name Barnett is ranked the 355th most popular surname with an estimated 10,192 people with that name. [7] And in New Zealand, the name Barnett is the 208th popular surname with an estimated 2,701 people with that name. [8] The United Kingdom ranks Barnett as 274th with 22,066 people. [9]

Ireland Migration of the Barnett family to Ireland

Some of the Barnett family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 71 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Barnett migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Barnett were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Barnett Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Barnett, who landed in Virginia in 1620 aboard the ship "Jonathan" [10]
  • Thomas Barnett, aged 16, who landed in Virginia in 1620 aboard the ship "Elizabeth" [10]
  • William Barnett, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 aboard the ship "Truelove", died by 1625 [10]
  • John Barnett, who landed in America in 1624 [10]
  • Rich Barnett, who landed in Virginia in 1635 [10]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Barnett Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Sara Barnett, who landed in Virginia in 1705 [10]
  • Francis Barnett, who arrived in Virginia in 1712 [10]
  • William Barnett, who landed in America in 1736 [10]
Barnett Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Margaret Barnett, aged 34, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803 [10]
  • Jane Barnett, aged 12, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803 [10]
  • Annabelle Barnett, aged 20, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803 [10]
  • Annabella Barnett, aged 20, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803 [10]
  • Andrew Barnett, aged 24, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803 [10]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Barnett Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Miss Mary Barnett, (b. 1867), aged 37, Cornish dressmaker travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 4th August 1904 en route to Pennsylvania, USA [11]
  • Mrs. Katie Barnett, (b. 1875), aged 30, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Ophir, Colorado, USA [11]

Canada Barnett migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Barnett Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • John Barnett, who arrived in Newfoundland in 1816 [12]
  • Albert Barnett, who arrived in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1862
  • B Barnett, who landed in Victoria, British Columbia in 1862
  • George Barnett, who landed in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1862
  • Hariett Barnett, who arrived in Esquimalt British Columbia in 1862

Australia Barnett migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Barnett Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Mary Barnett, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [13]
  • Mr. William Barnett, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [14]
  • Mr. Levi Barnett, English convict who was convicted in London, England for life for highway robbery, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [15]
  • Mr. John Barnett, English convict who was convicted in Hertfordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Fame" on 9th October 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [16]
  • Mr. James Barnett, British Convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for life, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [17]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Barnett migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Barnett Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Lewis Barnett, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842
  • William Barnett, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship Thomas Harrison
  • William Barnett, aged 33, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
  • Charlotte Barnett, aged 34, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
  • William Barnett, aged 4, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Barnett migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [18]
Barnett Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Jo Barnett, aged 20, who arrived in Barbados in 1635 [10]
  • Nathaniel] Barnett, who arrived in Jamaica in 1685 [10]

Contemporary Notables of the name Barnett (post 1700) +

  • Carol Jenkins Barnett (1956-2021), American philanthropist and businesswoman, the daughter of George W. Jenkins, the founder of Publix Super Markets, included in a Forbes magazine list of The World's Billionaires every year since 2008
  • Earsley Barnett, American wife of Major Carl Barnett, founder of Wings Jamaica earned the first pilot license granted to a woman in Jamaica in 1952
  • Joan Barnett (1945-2020), American Primetime Emmy Award nominated casting director and television executive producer
  • Frank Elliott Barnett (b. 1933), American diplomat, 49th Governor of American Samoa (1976-1977)
  • Brigadier-General James Washington Barnett (1892-1983), American Commanding General US Army Forces New Caledonia (1945) [19]
  • Major-General Allison Joseph Barnett (1892-1971), American Commanding General 94th Division, North-West Europe (1945-1946) [20]
  • Bryan K. Barnett, American politician, Mayor of Rochester Hills, Michigan; Elected 2011 [21]
  • Brian David Barnett, American Republican politician, Candidate for Montana State House of Representatives 99th District, 2010 [21]
  • Brian Barnett, American politician, Independent Candidate for Presidential Elector for Arkansas, 2008 [21]
  • Bob Barnett, American Republican politician, Chair of Kingfisher County Republican Party, 2014 [21]
  • ... (Another 93 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Hood
  • Mr. Ivor G Barnett (b. 1923), Welsh Stoker 2nd Class serving for the Royal Navy from Tirphil, Glamorgan, Wales, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [22]
USS Arizona
  • Mr. William Thermon Barnett, American Seaman Second Class from Arkansas, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking [23]


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  8. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  9. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  10. 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)
  11. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  12. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
  18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  19. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 6) James Barnett. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Barnett/James_Washington/USA.html
  20. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 6) Allison Barnett. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Barnett/Allison_Joseph/USA.html
  21. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  22. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  23. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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