Barro History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Spain

Barro is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from a family once having 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 Barro family

The surname Barro 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 Barro family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barro 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 Barro History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barro Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Barro has been recorded under many different variations, including Barrow, Barrough, Barrows and others.

Early Notables of the Barro 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...
Henry Barrowe (c.1550-1593), was an English Puritan and Separatist; Isaac Barrow (1630-1677), was an English scholar and mathematician who is best known for his early role in the development of calcul...

Barro migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Barro or a variant listed above:

Barro Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Anthony Barro, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1840 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Barro (post 1700) +

Mary Helen Barro, radio broadcasting executive

The Barro 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.
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)