Barress History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The surname Barress is an occupational name; that is, it is derived from the occupation of the original bearer. In this case, it is derived from the Old French word bar, which means bass; sea bass are a staple fish found in the Mediterranean. Occupational names frequently were derived from the principal object associated with the activity of the original bearer, such as tools or products. These types of occupational surnames are called metonymic surnames.
Early Origins of the Barress family
The surname Barress was first found in Provence, where the family has held a family seat from ancient times.
Early History of the Barress family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barress research. Another 185 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1653, 1703, 1755 and 1829 are included under the topic Early Barress History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Barress Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Barras, Baras, Barrasse, Baraz, Le Barras, Barace, Le Barace, Barèce and many more.
Early Notables of the Barress family
More information is included under the topic Early Barress Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Barress migration to the United States +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Barress Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Alfred Barress, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1872 1
- William Barress, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1887 1
The Barress 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: Vaillance de Barras
Motto Translation: Valour of Barras.
Citations +
- 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)