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Barrows History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Barrows History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the Barrows surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived near a grove, or in any of a number of places called Barrow, The surname is derived from the Old English word, bearo, which means grove. As a local name, it could also be derived from a long hill or mound.

The name is derived from "Barrow, the name of parishes and places in at least ten counties in England; from barrow, a wood or grove, from Anglo-Saxon beara, bearewe, a grove; or from barrow, a hillock or mound of earth intended as a repository for the dead, answering to the tumulus of the Latins; from Anglo-Saxon beorg a hill or hillock, byrgen a tomb." 1

Early Origins of the Barrows family

The surname Barrows was first found in Lancashire, where they held a family seat from ancient times. "The Lancashire Barrows, who are named after a borough in the county, are best represented in the Ambleside district." 2

One source claims the family was Norman in origin from Barou, near Falaise in Normandy. "In 1165 Robert de Jouvigny held a fief at Barrou, Normandy, of the Honour of Grent-Mesnil." 3

While Lancashire is generally understood the family's stronghold, Lincolnshire may have been their ancient homestead. "Roger de Barewe of Lincoln was deceased before 1271. In 1194 William de Barewe had a suit in the same county. In 1130 Adelaid de Barou occurs in Lincoln, and in 1093 Walleran de Baro witnessed a charter of Chester Abbey." 3

The Close Rolls had two entries for the family with early spellings: Walter de la Barowe, Close Rolls, 14 Edward III and Robert de la Barwe, 3 Edward I.

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1271 had two entries Richard de Barewe, Surrey; and William de la Barewe, Essex. 4

Kirby's Quest listed John atte Barwe, Somerset, 1 Edward III and John atte Berwe, Somerset, 1 Edward III. 5

The reader should know that early rolls were almost always listed in relationship to the year of the sovereign's reign. In other words, "1 Edward III," would denote "during the first year of King Edward III's reign."

Early History of the Barrows family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barrows research. Another 68 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1192, 1242, 1483, 1497, 1534, 1550, 1593, 1599, 1613, 1630, 1677 and 1680 are included under the topic Early Barrows History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barrows Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Barrows include Barrow, Barrough, Barrows and others.

Early Notables of the Barrows family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Thomas Barowe or Barrow (d. 1497?), English ecclesiastic and judge, Rector of Olney in Buckinghamshire, and was appointed to a prebend in St. Stephen's Chapel in the palace of Westminster in July 1483, shortly after the accession of Richard III, and in September of the same year to the Mastership of the Rolls. 6Peter Baro (1534-1599), English controversialist, son of Stephen Baro and Philippa Petit, his wife, was...
Another 76 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Barrows Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barrows Ranking

In the United States, the name Barrows is the 3,213^rd most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 7

Barrows migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Barrows Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Barrows, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1637 8
Robert Barrows, who landed in Connecticut in 1645 8
Mathew Barrows, who arrived in Virginia in 1656 8

Barrows Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Barrows, who arrived in America in 1808 8
A M Barrows, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 8

Barrows migration to Australia +

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

Barrows Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Barrows, aged 48, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Pestonjee Bomanjee" 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Barrows (post 1700) +

Clifford Burton Barrows (1923-2016), American music and program director for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1988
Cuke Barrows (1883-1955), American baseball outfielder
George D. Barrows (1914-1994), American actor
Henry Dwight Barrows (1825-1914), American teacher, businessman, farmer, goldminer, reporter
Henry A. Barrows (1875-1945), American actor
Robert Hilliard Barrows (1922-2008), American general
Francis A. Barrows, American politician, Member of Vermont State House of Representatives from Castleton, 1888 10
David Nye Barrows (1816-1895), American politician, Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, 1864-67 10
Dan Barrows, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Mansfield, 1828 10
Clark E. Barrows, American politician, Member of Connecticut State Senate 16th District, 1883-84 10
... (Another 24 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Barrows family +

Grover Shoe factory

Miss Serena S. Barrows (b. 1885), American employee of the Grover Shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts on 20th March 1905 when the boiler exploded and collapsed the wooden building; she died 11

RMS Titanic

Mr. William Barrows (d. 1912), aged 32, English First Class Saloon Steward from London, England who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 12

The Barrows 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: Parum sufficit
Motto Translation: A little is enough.

Citations +

Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
South Australian Register Wednesday 15th March 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Pestonjee Bomanjee 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/hyderabad1854.shtml
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
California Digital Newspaper from 21st March 1905 (retrieved on 5th August 2021.) Retrieved from https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19050321.2.19&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html