Barnet History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  France 
  Ireland 


The ancestors of the name Barnet date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Barnet family lived on or near land cleared for cultivation by burning off the forest.

The name may also have been patronymic as in "'the son of Bernard,' or 'Barnard.' The Cistercian monk gave a wonderful impetus in the 13th century to this name, already popular. A large number of Bernards sprang up in Furness after the Abbey came under the Bernardino rule." 1

Early Origins of the Barnet family

The surname Barnet was first found in Herefordshire at Chipping Barnet, a parish, town, and the head of a union, in the hundred of Cashio. "This place, called also High Barnet, from its situation on the summit of a hill, derives its distinguishing name from the privilege granted to the monks of St. Alban's, of holding a market here. On April 5th, 1471, the decisive battle which terminated in the defeat and death of the Earl of Warwick, and established Edward IV. on the throne, took place on Gladmore Heath, a mile north-west of the town." 2

Barnet by the Wold is a parish, in the union of Glandford-Brigg, S. division of the wapentake of Yarborough, parts of Lindsey, Lincolnshire, East Barnet is a parish, in the union of Barnet, hundred of Cashio, Herefordshire and Fryern Barnet is a parish, in the union of Barnet, Finsbury division of the hundred of Ossulstone, county of Middlesex. "It is supposed that an abbey anciently existed here from which the place obtained the prefix to its name, and that the old manor-house, now taken down, was the summer residence of the abbots. " 2

The singular name Bernadus was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 in Huntingdonshire. 3 A few years later, it appeared again in Norfolk (1101-1116.) 4

With a forename, one the earliest records was that of John Barnet (d. 1373), an English bishop successively of Worcester, Bath and Wells, and Ely, and was chaplain to Thomas Lisle. 5

Early History of the Barnet family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barnet research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1760, 1799, 1806, 1807, 1816, 1820, 1836 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Barnet History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barnet Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Barnet are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Barnet include: Barnett, Barnette, Barnet and others.

Early Notables of the Barnet family

Notables of the family at this time include

Barnet Ranking

In France, the name Barnet is the 9,518th most popular surname with an estimated 500 - 1,000 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Barnet family to Ireland

Some of the Barnet family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 71 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Barnet migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Barnet or a variant listed above:

Barnet Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Barnet Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Barnet Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Barnet migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Barnet Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Barnet Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Barnet migration to Australia +

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

Barnet Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Barnet migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 12
Barnet Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
Barnet Settlers in West Indies in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Barnet (post 1700) +
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