Show ContentsBarral History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The first people to use the distinguished Barral family name were found in the parish of Barwell, which is located in the county of Leicestershire. The surname Barral belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. This particular name is derived from the Old English words bar, meaning boar, and well, meaning spring or well.

Early Origins of the Barral family

The surname Barral was first found in the county of Herefordshire, where they held a family seat from about 1400 when they were granted lands in that county.

Early History of the Barral family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barral research. Another 53 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1500, 1600, 1627, 1663, 1679 and 1724 are included under the topic Early Barral History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barral Spelling Variations

Huguenot surnames were only slightly Anglicized, and they remain to this day a distinct group of surnames in England. Nevertheless, Huguenot surnames have been subject to numerous spelling alterations since the names emerged in France. French surnames have a variety of spelling variations because the French language has changed drastically over the centuries. French was developed from the vernacular Latin of the Roman Empire. It is divided into three historic and linguistic periods: Old French, which developed before the 14th century; Middle French, which was used between the 14th and 16th centuries; and Modern French, which was used after the 16th century and continues to be in use today. In all of these periods, the French language was heavily influenced by other languages. For example, Old French was infused with Germanic words and sounds when the barbarian tribes invaded and settled in France after the fall of the Roman Empire. Middle French also borrowed heaviliy from the Italian language during the Renaissance. Huguenot names have numerous variations. The name may be spelled Barrel, Barrell, Barril and others.

Early Notables of the Barral family

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Barral Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barral Ranking

In France, the name Barral is the 1,182nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,688 people with that name. 1

Ireland Migration of the Barral family to Ireland

Some of the Barral family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Barral migration to the United States +

Discovered in the immigration and passenger lists were a number of people bearing the name Barral:

Barral Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johan Christoph Barral who settled in 1754
  • Johan Christoph Barral, who settled in Philadelphia in 1754
  • Jaques Barral, who settled in Philadelphia in 1754
  • Jacob Barral, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1754

Contemporary Notables of the name Barral (post 1700) +

  • André Horace François de Barral de Rochechinard, French Brigadier General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 2
  • Emiliano Barral, Spanish sculptor
  • Carlos Barral, Spanish poet


  1. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  2. Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, February 11) André Barral. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook