Show ContentsBarraclough History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Of all the Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Barraclough is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in West Yorkshire at Bareclough or Barneclogh, spellings used in the 14th century. Later known as Barraclough, records of the village or parish seem to be lost. 1

Early Origins of the Barraclough family

The surname Barraclough was first found in West Yorkshire, where the first records of the family were found in 1315 and 1316. Peter del Baricloughe, de Barneclogh was listed there at that time. Much later, Robert Bereclough was listed in Yorkshire in 1493. 2 This latter source believes the place of origin was near Wakefield.

Early History of the Barraclough family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barraclough research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1561, 1588, 1608, 1612, 1626, 1631, 1690 and 1765 are included under the topic Early Barraclough History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barraclough Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Barraclough has been spelled many different ways, including Barraclough, Burraclough, Baraclough, Baracluff, Barrowclough, Barnaclough, Berecloth, Berrycloth, Baricloughe, Bereclough, Barrayclught, Beraclough, Barraclue, Baroclough, Barracliff and many more.

Early Notables of the Barraclough family

More information is included under the topic Early Barraclough Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Barraclough migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Barracloughs to arrive in North America:

Barraclough Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Barraclough, who sailed to New York in 1823
  • Abel Barraclough, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1864

Canada Barraclough migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Barraclough Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • William Barraclough, who was living in Waterloo County, Ontario in 1877
Barraclough Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Miss C Barraclough, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907
  • Harry Barraclough, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Australia Barraclough migration to Australia +

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

Barraclough Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Joseph Barraclough, British Convict who was convicted in Derby, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 5th November 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land)1836 3
  • Mr. John Barraclough, English convict who was convicted in Derbyshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 27th August 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4

New Zealand Barraclough 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:

Barraclough Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Barraclough, Australian settler travelling from Melbourne, Victoria aboard the ship "Dunedin" arriving in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand on 12th March 1860 5
  • Mrs. Barraclough, Australian settler travelling from Melbourne, Victoria aboard the ship "Dunedin" arriving in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand on 12th March 1860 5
  • Miss Barraclough, Australian settler travelling from Melbourne, Victoria aboard the ship "Dunedin" arriving in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand on 12th March 1860 5
  • Thomas Barraclough, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ernestina" in 1865
  • Mr. Thomas Barraclough, (b. 1841), aged 32, English mason from Yorkshire travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Surat" going to Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand in 1873, the ship sunk at the Catlins River all the passengers were transported to Dunedin via various rescure vessels 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Barraclough (post 1700) +

  • Roy Barraclough MBE (1935-2017), English comic actor, best known for his role as Alec Gilroy, in the long-running British TV soap Coronation Street
  • Alfred "Alf" Barraclough, English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer in the 1890s
  • Air Chief Marshal Sir John Barraclough KCB, CBE, DFC, AFC, OStJ, FRAeS (1918-2008), English Air Chief-Marshal of the RAF
  • Patricia Barraclough (d. 2023), Australian producer and presenter, known for This Day Tonight, Lateline, Australian Story
  • Brent Barraclough (b. 1962), Canadian classical pianist and film producer
  • Garth Wilson Egerton Barraclough OBE (1910-1990), Australian company director and chairman of Unilever Australia
  • Nick Barraclough (b. 1951), British radio producer, presenter, musician and writer
  • Lindley John Forbes Barraclough AO (1926-2005), Australian politician
  • Sir Samuel Henry Egerton Barraclough KBE, CBE (Mil.), VD, MInstCE, MIMechE (1871-1958), Australian mechanical engineer
  • Geoffrey Barraclough (1908-1984), British historian and Professor of history

HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Herman Barraclough (1917-1942), English Able Bodied Seaman from Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales and survived the sinking, also sailed aboard HMS Anking and was lost in 1942 7


  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. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1835
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  7. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html


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