Barnett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 


The present generation of the Barnett family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having 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 Barnett family

The surname Barnett 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 Barnett family

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

Barnett Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Barnett include Barnett, Barnette, Barnet and others.

Early Notables of the Barnett family

Notables of the family at this time include

Barnett World Ranking

In the United States, the name Barnett is the 275th most popular surname with an estimated 96,993 people with that name. 6 However, in Australia, the name Barnett is ranked the 355th most popular surname with an estimated 10,192 people with that name. 7 And in New Zealand, the name Barnett is the 208th popular surname with an estimated 2,701 people with that name. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Barnett as 274th with 22,066 people. 9

Migration of the Barnett family to Ireland

Some of the Barnett 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.


Barnett migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Barnett were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Barnett Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Barnett Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Barnett Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Barnett Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Barnett migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Barnett Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Barnett migration to Australia +

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

Barnett Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Barnett migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Barnett Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Barnett 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. 18
Barnett Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Barnett (post 1700) +
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