Show ContentsBarnfather History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Barnfather family

The surname Barnfather was first found in Roxburghshire where they held a family seat at Kelso from very early times. The name is anciently from the Old Norse personal name Bjarnvardr.

Early History of the Barnfather family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barnfather research. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1502, 1525, 1542, 1590 and 1687 are included under the topic Early Barnfather History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barnfather Spelling Variations

During the era when a person's name, tribe and posterity was one of his most important possessions, many different spellings were found in the archives examined. Barnfather occurred in many references, and spelling variations of the name found included Bairnsfather, Bairnfather, Barnsfather, Barnisfather, Barnisfadir, Bairnsfeather, Bairnfeather, Barnsfeather, Barnfeather, Bairnisfader, Bairnisfather, Bairnisfeather, Barnisfader, Barnisfather, Barnisfeather and many more.

Early Notables of the Barnfather family

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


United States Barnfather migration to the United States +

Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of illness and the elements, were buried at sea. In North America, early immigrants bearing the family name Barnfather, or a spelling variation of the surname include:

Barnfather Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Samuel Barnfather who landed in America in 1753

Contemporary Notables of the name Barnfather (post 1700) +

  • Keith Barnfather (b. 1959), English film director

HMS Royal Oak
  • Raymond Arthur Barnfather (1923-1939), born in Withernsea, Yorkshire, England, British Boy 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 1


  1. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html


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