Show ContentsBaro History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Baro

What does the name Baro mean?

Baro is a name whose history is connected to the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Baro family once lived near a grove, or in any of a number of places called Barrow, The surname is derived from the Old English word, bearo, which means grove. As a local name, it could also be derived from a long hill or mound.

The name is derived from "Barrow, the name of parishes and places in at least ten counties in England; from barrow, a wood or grove, from Anglo-Saxon beara, bearewe, a grove; or from barrow, a hillock or mound of earth intended as a repository for the dead, answering to the tumulus of the Latins; from Anglo-Saxon beorg a hill or hillock, byrgen a tomb." 1

Early Origins of the Baro family

The surname Baro was first found in Lancashire, where they held a family seat from ancient times. "The Lancashire Barrows, who are named after a borough in the county, are best represented in the Ambleside district." 2

One source claims the family was Norman in origin from Barou, near Falaise in Normandy. "In 1165 Robert de Jouvigny held a fief at Barrou, Normandy, of the Honour of Grent-Mesnil." 3

While Lancashire is generally understood the family's stronghold, Lincolnshire may have been their ancient homestead. "Roger de Barewe of Lincoln was deceased before 1271. In 1194 William de Barewe had a suit in the same county. In 1130 Adelaid de Barou occurs in Lincoln, and in 1093 Walleran de Baro witnessed a charter of Chester Abbey." 3

The Close Rolls had two entries for the family with early spellings: Walter de la Barowe, Close Rolls, 14 Edward III and Robert de la Barwe, 3 Edward I.

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1271 had two entries Richard de Barewe, Surrey; and William de la Barewe, Essex. 4

Kirby's Quest listed John atte Barwe, Somerset, 1 Edward III and John atte Berwe, Somerset, 1 Edward III. 5

The reader should know that early rolls were almost always listed in relationship to the year of the sovereign's reign. In other words, "1 Edward III," would denote "during the first year of King Edward III's reign."

Early History of the Baro family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Baro research. Another 68 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1192, 1242, 1483, 1497, 1534, 1550, 1593, 1599, 1613, 1630, 1677 and 1680 are included under the topic Early Baro History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Baro Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Baro family name include Barrow, Barrough, Barrows and others.

Early Notables of the Baro family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • Thomas Barowe or Barrow (d. 1497?), English ecclesiastic and judge, Rector of Olney in Buckinghamshire, and was appointed to a prebend in St. Stephen's Chapel in the palace of Westminster in July 1483...
  • Peter Baro (1534-1599), English controversialist, son of Stephen Baro and Philippa Petit, his wife, was a native of France, having been born December 1534 at Etampes, an ancient town between Paris and...

Baro Ranking

In the United States, the name Baro is the 17,055th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6


Baro migration to the United States +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Baro surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Baro Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Juan Baro, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1803 7
  • Bartolome Baro, aged 50, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1830 7
  • Alaves, Francisco Baro, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1878 7
  • Pedro G Baro, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1898 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Baro (post 1700) +

  • Gregorio Bonifacio Baró (b. 1928), Argentine chemist
  • Emília Baró i Sanz (1882-1964), Spanish actress

SS Atlantic
  • J. Baro, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking


The Baro Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Parum sufficit
Motto Translation: A little is enough.


  1. Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
  2. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  3. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. 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)


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