Barr History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

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It was in the Scottish/English Borderlands that the Strathclyde-Briton people first used the ancient name Barr. It was a name for someone who lived in Ayrshire, where the family was found since the early Middle Ages. It is generally thought to have been a habitational name, taken on from any of various place names in southwestern Scotland, in particular in Ayrshire and Renfrewshire. These place names derive from the Gaelic word barr, meaning "height," or "hill." 1

Further to the south in England, one of the early noteworthy people in the family was Richard Barre " (fl. 1170-1202), ecclesiastic and judge, [who] acted as the envoy of Henry II to the papal court, both shortly before and immediately after the murder of Thomas Becket. On the first occasion he was the bearer of a haughty and even minatory message from the king demanding that the pope should absolve all those who had been excommunicated by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Barre was entrusted with the custody of the great seal on the coronation of the heir apparent in 1170, but on the revolt of the prince in 1173 he offered to surrender it to the king. Barre probably succeeded Richard de Ely, otherwise FitzNeale, as archdeacon of Ely in 1184." 2

Early Origins of the Barr family

The surname Barr was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire. "The surname is most frequently found at the present day in the district around Glasgow, and is a common surname in the Kilbarchan Commissariot Record. Atkyn de Barr was bailie of Ayr c. 1340. John Bar or de Barre was burgess of Edinburgh in 1423." 1

However, some of the family were first found further south at Tollerton in Nottinghamshire, England. "This place, which takes its name from Torlaston, one of its possessors before the Conquest, in the reign of Stephen became the manor of Radulphus Barre, with whose descendants it still remains." 3

"His wife must have been a De Lisle, for his son Richard, in one of his deeds, speaks of Ranulf de Insula, his grandfather, and Matilda Malebisse, his grandmother. Fifth in descent from Richard was Thomas, Dominus de Teversall (or Tearsall), who first called himself Barry, as the family continued to do till it ended with John Barry in the reign of Henry VI. A branch seated at Torlaston lasted about one hundred years longer. These Barres or Barrys were benefactors to the monks of Beauchief." 4

Richard de Barra was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holding lands in Somerset at that time. 5

In Northamptonshire, William Barre, or Barry, of Great Billing, held one fee of Courcy in 1165. 6 Anger de la Barra was listed at Clerkenwell, London c. 1216-1217. Later John ate Barre was recorded in Sussex in 1283. Edricius de la Bartre was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Staffordshire in 1170 and William de Barre in the Assize Rolls for Staffordshire in 1199. 7

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Gunilda de la Barre in Hertfordshire and Philip de le Barre in Huntingdonshire. 8

Early History of the Barr family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barr research. Another 124 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1170, 1173, 1202, 1551, 1554, 1565, 1590, 1600, 1612, 1686 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Barr History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barr Spelling Variations

Scribes in Medieval Scotland spelled names by sound rather than any set of rules, so an enormous number of spelling variations exist in names of that era. Barr has been spelled Barr, Barre and others.

Early Notables of the Barr family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Barr World Ranking

In the United States, the name Barr is the 698th most popular surname with an estimated 42,279 people with that name. 9 However, in Canada, the name Barr is ranked the 815th most popular surname with an estimated 6,592 people with that name. 10 And in Australia, the name Barr is the 504th popular surname with an estimated 7,541 people with that name. 11 New Zealand ranks Barr as 440th with 1,538 people. 12 The United Kingdom ranks Barr as 517th with 12,679 people. 13

Migration of the Barr family to Ireland

Some of the Barr family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Barr migration to the United States +

The number of Strathclyde Clan families sailing for North America increased steadily as the persecution continued. In the colonies, they could find not only freedom from the iron hand of the English government, but land to settle on. The American War of Independence allowed many of these settlers to prove their independence, while some chose to go to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots played essential roles in the forging of both great nations. Among them:

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

Barr migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

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

Barr migration to Australia +

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

Barr Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Barr 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:

Barr Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Barr (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Barr +
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