Show ContentsBarke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the Barke surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in a bark-house, a house where the bark was stored for use in the tanning process.

Early Origins of the Barke family

The surname Barke was first found in Norfolk, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Barke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barke research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1249, 1327, 1400 and 1500 are included under the topic Early Barke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barke 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 Barke include Bark, Barke, Barks, Barc, Berk and others.

Early Notables of the Barke family

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


United States Barke 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:

Barke Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Frances Barke, who sailed to Virginia in 1623
  • H Barke journeyed to Virginia in 1647
  • Henry Barke, who landed in Virginia in 1647 1
  • John Barke, who landed in Maryland in 1661 1

Canada Barke migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Barke Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Willett Barke was recorded in the Muskoka District, Ontario in 1879

Contemporary Notables of the name Barke (post 1700) +

  • Mr. William Barke, British sheriff, held the joint position of Sheriff of Nottingham, England from 1694 to 1695
  • Francisco Encina Barke (b. 1902), Chilean civil engineer
  • James Barke (1905-1988), Scottish novelist

Ibrox disaster
  • Richard Barke (1956-1971), Scottish football supporter, from Glasgow who was at the Ibrox disaster on 2nd January 1971 when a human crush among the crowd killed 66 and injured 200 people he died of his injuries 2


  1. 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)
  2. Bradford City Football Club In memory (retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/club/in-memoriam/


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