Show ContentsBarrett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Barrett Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Barrett

What does the name Barrett mean?

The history of the Barrett family goes back to the Medieval landscape of northern France, to that coastal region known as Normandy. Barrett is a habitation name, derived from the place name Barrault, in Normandy. 1

Early Origins of the Barrett family

The surname Barrett was first found in Normandy (French: Normandie), the former Duchy of Normandy, where they held a family seat in the village of Charente in the arrondissement de Chatelle Rault. 2

"Formerly the Carmelites were called the Barred Brothers, because of their clothes. Du Cange says that barette is the noun of the verb bareter, to exchange, to trade. Moisy says that in Normandy the name of churn to the churn to make butter is given." 2

Early History of the Barrett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barrett research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1658, 1706, 1711, 1804 and 1874 are included under the topic Early Barrett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barrett Spelling Variations

French surnames were subject to numerous spelling alterations depending on the region and time it was used. The early development of the French language relied heavily on borrowing elements and grammar from other languages. For example, Old French was infused with Germanic words and sounds when barbarian tribes invaded and settled in France after the fall of the Roman Empire. Middle French also borrowed heavily from the Italian language during the Renaissance. As a result of these linguistic and cultural influences, the name Barrett is distinguished by a number of regional variations. The many spelling variations of the name include Baratte, Barate, Barat, Barrat, Barat, Baraud, Barraud, Barrault, Barault, Bareau, Barreau, Barau, Barrau, Barou, Barrou, Barot, Barrot, Barott, Barrott, Barrotte, Barotte, Barratt, Barrat, Baratt, Barre, Barry, Barrett, Barrette, Barret, Barett, Barrit, Barritt, Barritte, Barre and many more.

Early Notables of the Barrett family

Claude Barrat (c. 1658-c.1711), a French notary and a clerk of the court in Placentia (Plaisance), Newfoundland; and Nicolas Barat (died 1706), a French Catholic scholar of Hebrew works. Apollon Marie-Rose Barret was a "remarkable oboe player, born in the south...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Barrett Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barrett World Ranking

In Australia, the name Barrett is the 191st most popular surname with an estimated 16,704 people with that name. 3 However, in New Zealand, the name Barrett is ranked the 200th most popular surname with an estimated 2,795 people with that name. 4 And in the United Kingdom, the name Barrett is the 166th popular surname with an estimated 32,381 people with that name. 5 Canada ranks Barrett as 399th with 11,607 people. 6 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Barrett as 56th with 447 people. 7 The United States ranks Barrett as 280th with 96,993 people. 8

Barrett migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet
  • Mr. Jonathan Barrett, (1765 - 1790), aged 24, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790, may have died on the ship 9
Third Fleet
  • Mr. Thomas Barrett, (1758 - 1788), aged 25, Irish Blacksmith convicted in London, England on 10th September 1782, sentenced for life for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Charlotte" leaving on 13th May 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 22nd January 1788 10
Following the First and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Barrett Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Barrett, (b. 1758), aged 29, English blacksmith who was convicted in London, England for life for theft, transported aboard the "Charlotte" on 13th May 1787, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1788 10
Barrett Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Barrett 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:

Barrett Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Richard Barrett, who landed in Queen Charlotte Sound, New Zealand in 1830
  • John Barrett, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Richard Barrett, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • William Barrett, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Mr. Peter Barrett, British settler, as the 2nd Detachment of New Zealand Corps of Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Minerva" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1847 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Barrett (post 1700) +

  • John Edward Barrett (1928-2023), Australian rules football player from Frankston, Victoria, active from 1950 through 1961
  • Shirley Barrett (1961-2022), Australian film director, screenwriter, and novelist from Melbourne
  • Robert G. Barrett (1946-2012), Australian author who sold over 1,000,000 books in Australia, best known for the books with his Les Norton character
  • Ray Barrett (1927-2009), Australian actor
  • Charles Leslie Barrett (1870-1959), Australian naturalist, journalist, author and ornithologist
  • Danelle Barrett (1967-2024), American naval officer who is one of less that 200 women to achieve Rear Admiral (lower half)
  • Colleen C. Barrett (1944-2024), American business executive, President, and later President Emerita, of Southwest Airlines
  • Aston Francis Barrett CD (1946-2024), often called "Family Man" or "Fams" for short, was a Jamaican musician and Rastafarian
  • Ernie Drew "Black Jack" Barrett (1929-2023), American NBA professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics (1953-1954) and (1955-1956)
  • ... (Another 25 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Cataraqui
  • William Barrett (b. 1807), British passenger who died aboard the ship "Cataraqui" when sailing for Melbourne, Australia she struck rocks of Kings Island and sank on 4th April 1845
  • Mary Barrett (b. 1806), British passenger who died aboard the ship "Cataraqui" when sailing for Melbourne, Australia she struck rocks of Kings Island and sank on 4th April 1845
  • George Barrett (b. 1835), British passenger who died aboard the ship "Cataraqui" when sailing for Melbourne, Australia she struck rocks of Kings Island and sank on 4th April 1845
  • Dinah Barrett (b. 1836), British passenger who died aboard the ship "Cataraqui" when sailing for Melbourne, Australia she struck rocks of Kings Island and sank on 4th April 1845
  • Henry Barrett (b. 1838), British passenger who died aboard the ship "Cataraqui" when sailing for Melbourne, Australia she struck rocks of Kings Island and sank on 4th April 1845
  • ... (Another 17 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Barrett 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: Pour bien desirer
Motto Translation: For wishing well.

Suggested Readings for the name Barrett +

  • John Clinton Barrett, Tennessee Settler in the Ozarks: The Life and Times of John C. Barrett, his Family and Descendants by Ron Pyron.
  1. 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)
  2. Dionne, N.-E., Les Canadiens-Francais Origine Des Familles. Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 1969. Print
  3. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  4. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  5. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  6. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  7. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  8. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  9. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  10. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/charlotte
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au
  13. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Dick
  15. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html

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