Barkey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England
• Ireland

Etymology of Barkey

The name Barkey is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in a bark-house, a house where the bark was stored for use in the tanning process.

Early Origins of the Barkey family

Early History of the Barkey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barkey research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1249, 1327, 1400 and 1500 are included under the topic Early Barkey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barkey Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Barkey are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Barkey include: Bark, Barke, Barks, Barc, Berk and others.

Early Notables of the Barkey family

More information is included under the topic Early Barkey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Barkey family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Barkey or a variant listed above: Frances Barke, who sailed to Virginia in 1623. H. Barke journeyed to Virginia in 1647; Henry and Jacob Bark arrived in Philadelphia in 1806; Sara Bark landed in New York in 1850.