Show ContentsBarbara History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

From the ancient and picturesque Italian region of Venice emerged a variety of distinguished names, including the notable surname Barbara. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. Italian hereditary surnames were developed according to fairly general principles and they are characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. Although the most traditional type of family name found in the region of Venice is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, local surnames are also found. Local names, which are the least frequent of the major types of surnames found in Italy, are derived from a place-name where the original bearer once resided or held land. Often Italian local surnames bore the prefix "di," which signifies emigration from one place to another, but does not necessarily denote nobility. The Barbara family lived in the Veneto region of Italy.

Frederick Barbarossa (1122 - 1190), also known as Frederick I was the Holy Roman Emperor from 1155 till he died in 1190. Elected King of Germany in March 1152 and crowned in Aachen, he was also crowned King of Italy in April 1155, then Emperor by Pope Adrian IV in June 1155. Later formally crowned King of Burgundy in 1178, given the name Barbarossa "Red Beard" in Italian by the northern italian cities. In Germany he was known as Kaiser Rotbart which means "Emperor Redbeard". He was the son of Duke Frederick II of the Hohenstaufen dynasty and Judith, daughter of Henry IX, Duke of Bavaria, from the rival House of Welf. On 10 June 1190, he drowned near Silifke Castle in the Saleph River.

Early Origins of the Barbara family

The surname Barbara was first found in Sicily (Italian: Sicilia), the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. In those ancient times only persons of rank, the podesta, clergy, city officials, army officers, artists, landowners were entered into the records. To be recorded at this time, at the beginning of recorded history, was of itself a great distinction and indicative of noble ancestry.

Early History of the Barbara family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barbara research. Another 223 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1410, 1443, 1453, 1466, 1485, 1491, 1494, 1500, 1516, 1546, 1550, 1552, 1660, 1679 and 1788 are included under the topic Early Barbara History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barbara Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Barbaro, Barbara, Barabari, Barbarino, Barbarella, Barbarelli, Barbarotti and many more.

Early Notables of the Barbara family

Prominent among bearers of this surname in early times was Hayreddin Barbarossa (Khidr), (c. 1466/83 - 1546), Ottoman corsair and later admiral of the Ottoman Navy. His naval victories secured Ottoman dominance over the Mediterranean during the mid 16th century. Born on Lesbos, Greece he began his...
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Barbara Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barbara World Ranking

In the United States, the name Barbara is the 11,413rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Barbara is ranked the 9,258th most popular surname with an estimated 500 - 1,000 people with that name. 2 And in New Zealand, the name Barbara is the 786th popular surname with an estimated 929 people with that name. 3


Barbara migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Barbara Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Barbara, who arrived in Maryland in 1669 4
Barbara Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Maria Barbara, who arrived in New York in 1709 4
  • Anna Barbara, who landed in New York in 1709 4
Barbara Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Anna Barbara, who sailed to New Orleans in 1820
  • Magin Barbara, aged 21, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1838 4
  • Mr. Barbara, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 4
  • Antonio Barbara, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1860 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Barbara (post 1700) +

  • Emanuel Barbara OFM Cap (1949-2018), Maltese prelate, Bishop of Malindi (2011-2018)
  • Dame Jocelyn Barbara Fish DNZM CBE JP (1930-2021), née Green, a New Zealand women's rights campaigner, born in Whangarei, New Zealand
  • Dr. Barbara Clucas, American University of California Animal Behavior specialist
  • Joan Barbara Yarde-Buller (1908-1997), English socialite, one of the Bright Young Things
  • Mary Barbara Jefford OBE (1930-2020), British actress, best known for her theatrical performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Old Vic and the National Theatre
  • Mrs. Stephanie Barbara Shields M.B.E., British recipient of Member of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to Conservation Heritage 5
  • Mrs. Melian Barbara Mansfield M.B.E. (b. 1942), British recipient of Member of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to Young People, Play and Education 5
  • Mrs. Diana Barbara McKenna O.B.E., British Head for Specialist Disabled Children’s Services for Derbyshire County Council, was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities 6
  • Ms. Catherine Barbara Watkins B.E.M., British recipient of Medallist of the British Empire Medal 29th December 2018 for services to Education and to Young People in Rhoose, Vale of Glamorgan 6
  • Ms. Kirsten Barbara Dzeryn M.B.E., British recipient of the Member of the Order of the British Empire on 29th December 2018 for services to national security 6


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  4. 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)
  5. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62310, 4 July 2019 | London Gazette, The Gazette, June 2018, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62310/supplement/B1
  6. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists


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