Barbie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Scotland
Ireland
England

The chronicles of Scottish history reveal that the first people to use the name Barbie were the Strathclyde-Britons. The Barbie 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 Barbie family

The surname Barbie 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 Barbie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barbie research. Another 180 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1316, 1329, 1336, 1383, 1391, 1395, 1410, 1451, 1463, 1603, 1690, 1714, 1738, 1757, 1761, 1763, 1811, 1890 and 1934 are included under the topic Early Barbie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barbie Spelling Variations

Prior to the first dictionaries, scribes spelled words according to sound. This, and the fact that Scottish names were repeatedly translated from Gaelic to English and back, contributed to the enormous number of spelling variations in Scottish names. Barbie has been spelled Barbour, Barber, Barberton and others.

Early Notables of the Barbie family

Another 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Barbie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Barbie family to Ireland

Some of the Barbie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 197 words (14 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barbie migration to the United States +

In such difficult times, the difficulties of raising the money to cross the Atlantic to North America did not seem so large compared to the problems of keeping a family together in Scotland. It was a journey well worth the cost, since it was rewarded with land and freedom the Scots could not find at home. The American War of Independence solidified that freedom, and many of those settlers went on to play important parts in the forging of a great nation. Among them:

Barbie Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Claude Barbie, who landed in Virginia in 1700 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Barbie (post 1700) +

Klaus Barbie (1913-1991), German Nazi officer, notorious for his role during the occupation of the city of Lyon
Barbie Blank (b. 1987), American model and professional wrestling valet

The Barbie 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: Nihilo nisi cruce
Motto Translation: Nothing, but the cross.

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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)