Barnes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Barnes

What does the name Barnes mean?

The ancient name Barnes is a Norman name that would have been developed in England after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. This name was a name given to a small child. The surname springs from the middle English bairn, of the same meaning. 1 2

Early Origins of the Barnes family

The surname Barnes was first found in Surrey at Barnes, a parish, in the union of Richmond, W. division of the hundred of Brixton. 3 This parish was originally listed as Berne 4 in the Domesday Book of 1086.

According to the Saxon Chronicle, Siward Barn was the patriot rebel against William the Conqueror. 5 After that early listing, one of the first records of the name was found in Surrey as Philip de Bernes. 6

Other early records include: Henry de le Berne in Norfolk; Richard de la Berne in Kent; and William de la Berne in Dorset, all listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. 1 William Bernes was listed in the Assize Rolls of Cheshire in 1380 and Joan Barnes was also listed in Cheshire in 1450. 6

Early Scottish sources revealed that the name was from "Barnes in the parish of Premnay, Aberdeenshire" 7 where the first record was found in the 15th century as Robert of Bernis, a goldsmith in 1465. 7

Early History of the Barnes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barnes research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1300, 1495, 1532, 1540, 1569, 1587, 1609, 1627, 1654, 1661, 1675, 1710, 1712 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Barnes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barnes Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Barnes were recorded, including Barnes, Barns, Barnis, Bernys, Barness and others.

Early Notables of the Barnes family

Robert Barnes (1495-1540), English Protestant divine and martyr, a Norfolk man, born in the neighbourhood of Lynn. "Barnes and his two companions, as heretics, were committed to the flames." 8
Richard Barnes (1532-1587), Bishop of Durham, born at Bould, near Warrington, in Lancashire, son of John Barnes and Agnes Saunderson, his wife
Barnabe Barnes (1569?-1609), English poet, born in Yorkshire about the year 1569, a younger son of Dr. Richard Barnes, Bishop of Durham
John Barnes (died 1661), was an English Benedictine monk, from Lancashire. Ambrose Barnes (1627-1710), was an English nonconformist and Mayor of Newcastle
Joshua Barnes FRS (1654-1712), was an English scholar and author, best known for his Utopian romance "a New Discovery of a Little Sort of People, anciently discoursed of, called Pygmies" in 1675

Barnes World Ranking

the United States, the name Barnes is the 79^th most popular surname with an estimated 241,239 people with that name. 9 However, in Canada, the name Barnes is ranked the 335^th most popular surname with an estimated 13,622 people with that name. 10 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Barnes is the 35^th popular surname with an estimated 613 people with that name. 11 Australia ranks Barnes as 98^th with 26,001 people. 12 New Zealand ranks Barnes as 161^st with 3,203 people. 13 The United Kingdom ranks Barnes as 93^rd with 50,285 people. 14 South Africa ranks Barnes as 849^th with 8,208 people. 15

Migration of the Barnes family to Ireland

Some of the Barnes family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 75 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barnes migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Barnes arrived in North America very early:

Barnes Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Robert Barnes, who landed in Jamestown, Va in 1607 aboard the "First Supply" 17
Phillip Barnes, who landed in Virginia in 1622 17
Edward Barnes, who landed in Virginia in 1623 17
John Barnes, who landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1631 17
Launcelot Barnes, who landed in Virginia in 1632 17
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Barnes Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Abraham Barnes, who arrived in Maryland in 1700 17
Sara Barnes, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 17
Richard Barnes, who landed in Virginia in 1711 17
Robert Barnes, who arrived in New England in 1716 17
John Barnes, who landed in Georgia in 1733 17
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Barnes Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Nancy Barnes, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1803 17
Arthur Barnes, who landed in New York, NY in 1812 17
John Barnes, aged 40, who arrived in New York in 1812 17
Samuel Barnes, who landed in America in 1812 17
Soloman Barnes, aged 20, who arrived in America in 1822 17
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Barnes migration to Canada +

Barnes Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Barnes, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
Mr. Thomas Barnes U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 18
Mr. Robert Barnes, "Burns" U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1783 he was a member of the Cape Ann Association 18
Ephraim Barnes, who arrived in Quebec in 1793 with his wife and four children

Barnes Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Barnes, who landed in Newfoundland in 1811, today there is a Barnes Island in Newfoundland 19
Hiram Barnes, who landed in Canada in 1832
Mr. Jean Barnes, aged 30 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Eliza Caroline" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 20
Mrs. Judy Barnes, aged 30 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Wellington" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in October 1847 20
Mr. Robert Barnes, aged 7 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Eliza Caroline" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 20
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Barnes migration to Australia +

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

First Fleet

Mr. John Barnes, (1766 - 1790), aged 23, British settler convicted in London, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790, may have died on the ship 16
Mr. John Barnes, (Smith), British settler convicted in Worcestershire, England in 1786, sentenced to Life for breaking and entering, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 17
Mr. Samuel Robert Barnes, (1764 - 1790), aged 25, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 17
Mr. William Barnes, (1760 - 1790), aged 29, British settler convicted in Lancaster, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 17
Miss Elizabeth Barnes, (1767 - 1794), aged 20, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Lady Juliana" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 17

Second Fleet

Mr. William Barnes, (b. 1748), aged 42, Irish settler convicted in County Down, Ireland in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Queen" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 17
Mr. John Barnes, British settler convicted in Wiltshire, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing clothes, transported aboard the ship "Admiral Barrington" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 17
Mr. John Barnes, (1767 - 1835), aged 23, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing clothes, transported aboard the ship "Third Fleet" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 17
Miss Sarah Matilda Barnes, (1775 - 1853), aged 15, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing pots, transported aboard the ship "Mary Ann" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 17

Third Fleet

Mr. Stephen Barnes, English settler convicted in York, Yorkshire on 9th July 1785, sentenced for 7 years for stealing clothing, transported aboard the ship "Alexander" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 17
Mr. Samuel Barnes, British servant on the support ship for the First Fleet the "Golden Grove" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788
Mrs. Mary Barnes, British settler on the support ship for the First Fleet the "Golden Grove" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788

Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Barnes Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. James Barnes, English convict who was convicted in Derby, Derbyshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 21

Barnes Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Francis Barnes, British convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, the settlement was listed as abandoned and most of the convicts transported to Tasmania on the "Queen" in 1804 22
Mrs. Isabella Barnes, (Rankelier, Burbridge), (1772 - 11831), aged 33, British settler who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the "Fortune And Alexander" on 31st December 1805, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 23
Mr. William Barnes, (Coward), British settler who was convicted in Somerset, England for 7 years for felony, transported aboard the "Fortune And Alexander" on 31st December 1805, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 23
Mr. Edward Barnes, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Boyd" on 10th March 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 24
William Barnes, English convict from Warwick, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia 25
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Barnes Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century

Mr. Edward Barnes, (b. 1855), aged 45, Cornish seaman who immigrated to New South Wales, Australia aboard the ship "James Nesmith" in convicted at Maitland Gaol on 23rd April 1900 26

Barnes 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:

Barnes Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. R.B. Barnes, British settler travelling from England aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 14th November 1840 27
James Barnes, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Richard A Barnes, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Martha Ridgway
William Barnes, aged 36, a blacksmith, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 28
Harriet Barnes, aged 36, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 28
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Barnes migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 29

Barnes Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Giles Barnes, (b. 1616), aged 19, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 30
Mr. William Barnes, (b. 1618), aged 17, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 30
Mr. William Barnes, (b. 1620), aged 15, British settler travelling aboard the ship "The Dorset" arriving in Barbados in September 1635 31
Mr. Thomas Barnes, (b. 1615), aged 20, British settler traveling aboard the ship "William and John" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 32
Mr. Edward Barnes, (b. 1619), aged 16, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Paul of London" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 32

Contemporary Notables of the name Barnes (post 1700) +

Wilma Evonne Barnes (b. 1920), American private in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, first all-female, all-African-American battalion to server overseas
Joyce Barnes (1925-2017), married name McCoy, American former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League pitcher
Gary Marshall Barnes (1939-2023), American NFL football wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers, the Dallas Cowboys, the Chicago Bears, and the Atlanta Falcons
Rodrigo DeTriana Barnes (1950-2023), American professional NFL football linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders
James Jay "J.J." Barnes (1943-2022), American R&B singer and songwriter from Detroit, Michigan
Erich Theodore Barnes (1935-2022), American NFL football defensive back, a six-time Pro Bowler (1958-1971)
Joanna Barnes (1934-2022), American Golden Globe nominated actress and writer, known for her roles on 77 Sunset Strip, Maverick, CBS's Have Gun-Will Travel, and many more
Peter J. Barnes III (1956-2021), American Democratic Party politician, Member of the New Jersey Senate (2014-2016)
Wallace Barnes (1926-2020), American Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Barnes Group, Inc
... (Another 306 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Barnes family +

Centaur

Wilbur Edward Clarke Barnes (1909-1943), Australian Private who died aboard the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
Mr. Walter J Barnes (b. 1922), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Cheham, Buckinghamshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 33
Mr. Thomas G Barnes (b. 1922), English Stoker Petty Officer serving for the Royal Navy from Epson, Surrey, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 34
Mr. Victor Thomas Barnes, English Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 34
Mr. Richard Barnes, British seaman who was aboard the ship "HMS Queen Charlotte" off the coast of Capraia, Italy when she caught fire on the 17th March 1800; listed as survived
... (Another 16 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sources +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
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)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
"Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 12)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Boyd
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
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_gaol_admissions.pdf
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html