Show ContentsBaber History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Baber belongs to the early history of Britain, it's origins lie with the Anglo-Saxons. It is a product of their having lived in Baber, in the county of Suffolk. There is also a place in Cornwall called Baber (sometimes known as St. Dominick) from which some cases of the name may originate, but it is of later origin than the one in Suffolk.

"This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Baber.' Mr. Lower derives it from the Hundred of Babergh, Suffolk. But in the Cornwall Directory occurs a place called Baber, seemingly the same as St. Dominick. Baber is a familiar Devon and Cornwall surname. " [1]

Significantly, one source notes that the name could have been Gaelic in origin, from "Babair or Basbair, a fencer or swordsman; one who, by his blows, produced death; from Bas, death, and fear, a man." [2]

Early Origins of the Baber family

The surname Baber was first found in Cambridgeshire, where Henry Babre was registered in the Hundrendorum Rolls of 1273. [1]

Early History of the Baber family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Baber research. Another 206 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1532, 1571, 1572, 1578, 1582, 1593, 1601, 1608, 1621, 1625, 1628, 1629, 1635, 1640, 1642, 1644, 1660, 1669, 1677, 1687, 1700, 1704 and 1757 are included under the topic Early Baber History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Baber 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 Baber include Baber, Babre, Bayber, Baybre, Babar, Baybar, Babor, Babir and many more.

Early Notables of the Baber family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Edward Baber (1532-1578), an English politician, Member of the Parliament for Bath (1571 to 1572); John Baber (1593-1644), an English lawyer and politician, Member of Parliament for Wells (1628-1629)...

Baber Ranking

In the United States, the name Baber is the 4,916th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [3]


United States Baber 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 Baber were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Baber Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Francis Baber, aged 36, who arrived in New England in 1635 from Weymouth, England possible boat is Mary Gould
  • Robert Baber journeyed to Virginia in 1663
Baber Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Nick Baber, who sailed to Philadelphia in 1838

New Zealand Baber 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:

Baber Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Richard K Baber, who landed in Tamaki, Auckland, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Tuscan
  • J Baber, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship Barque Tuscan
  • Mr. Baber, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Bank of England" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 10th October 1850 [4]
  • Mr. James Baber, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Eastfield" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 12th December 1857 [4]
  • Mrs. Mary Baber, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Eastfield" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 12th December 1857 [4]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Baber (post 1700) +

  • Joseph Wilson Baber Jr. (1937-2022), American composer, violist, and composition teacher in Lexington, Kentucky
  • Mary Arizona "Zonia" Baber (1862-1955), American geographer and geologist
  • William Franklin "Bill" Baber (b. 1979), American former NFL tight end
  • Asa Baber (1936-2003), American author and columnist
  • Edward Ambrose Baber (1793-1846), American physician and diplomat, U.S. chargé d'affaires in Italy from 1841 to 1844
  • Alice Baber (1928-1982), American abstract expressionist painter
  • William Baber, renowned American lawyer
  • Llewellyn Baber, American politician, Delegate to Ohio State Constitutional Convention from Franklin County, 1873 [5]
  • Hiram Howell Baber (1795-1873), American politician, Delegate to Missouri State Constitutional Convention from St. Charles County, 1820; Missouri State Auditor, 1837-52 [5]
  • Fred Baber, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1912 (alternate), 1920 [5]
  • ... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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