Contents [hide]

Barrington History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Barrington History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Barrington was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Barrington family lived in parishes at Cambridge, Berkshire, Somerset and Gloucester. Their original family seat was at Barentin in Normandy, and they were one of a group of families that draw their name from this location. 1

Early Origins of the Barrington family

The surname Barrington was first found in Cambridge and Lincolnshire where they have held a family seat from very ancient times. Barrington or De Barenton was located near Caudebec, Normandy. 1

Early feudal rolls provided the king of the time a method of cataloguing holdings for taxation, but today they provide a glimpse into the wide surname spellings in use in early times.

Fulk de Barenton was found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1198 and a few years later, Geoffrey de Barrington was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Dorset and Somerset in 1219. In Essex, the Feet of Fines for 1344 include and entry for Nicholas de Baryngton. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include: Warin de Barenton, Cambridgeshire; Gilbert de Barenton, Cambridgeshire; Drogo de Barentin, Oxfordshire; and William de Barentin, Oxfordshire. 3

"Some of the families of this name claim a Norman descent, and derive their name from Barenton. The Irish Baronet deduces himself from a Saxon progenitor, keeper of the Forest of Hatfield in the days of the Conqueror. Le Neve derives the name from an imaginary Saxon called Barentine, but according to Sir Jonas Barrington's Memoirs, the family's Norman origin is unquestionable. The surname was variously written Barentin, Barentyn, Barenton, Barentine, and at length took the English form of Barrington, There are parishes bearing this name in four English counties." 4

As far as the place names are concerned, most date back to Domesday Book of 1086: Barrington, Cambridgeshire was recorded as Barentone at that time; Barrington in Somerset was recorded as Barintone; and Great & Little Barrington, Gloucestershire was recorded as Bernin(n)tomne. 5 All places are derived from a "farmstead of a man called 'Barra', which is an old personal name. 6

Early History of the Barrington family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barrington research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1570, 1588, 1601, 1605, 1611, 1621, 1628, 1629, 1644, 1645, 1648, 1660, 1671, 1679, 1683, 1715, 1728, 1764, 1797, 1800 and 1917 are included under the topic Early Barrington History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barrington Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Barrington have been found, including Barrington, Barentin, Berrington, Berington, Berinton, Barenten, Barenton, Barentine, Barentyn, Barrinton, Barrenkton, Barringston and many more.

Early Notables of the Barrington family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Sir Francis Barrington, 1st Baronet (ca. 1570-1628), an English lawyer and politician, Member of Parliament for Essex (1601-1611) and (1621-1628)

Barrington Ranking

In the United States, the name Barrington is the 6,665^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 7

Migration of the Barrington family to Ireland

Some of the Barrington family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barrington migration to the United States +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Barrington were among those contributors:

Barrington Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Barrington, who landed in Virginia in 1643 8
Fra Barrington, who arrived in Virginia in 1648 8
Doane Barrington, who landed in Maryland in 1659 8
Isaack Barrington, who arrived in Virginia in 1666 8
Robert Barrington, who settled in Virginia in 1677
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Barrington Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Benjamin Barrington, who settled in North Carolina in 1701

Barrington Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Timothy Barrington, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1822
Timothy Barrington, aged 30, who arrived in America in 1822 8
John Barrington, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 8
B F Barrington, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 8

Barrington migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Barrington Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Barrington, who settled in King's Cove, Newfoundland in 1815 9
John Barrington, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Breakwater" from Plymouth, England

Barrington Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

John Barrington was a MicMac Indian Trapper in 1905 who who followed the practice of guides, taking the name of an employer, he had hunting grounds "on the eastern side of the Tolt," Newfoundland and lived to be 103 years of age

Barrington migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Barrington Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Barrington, English convict from Somerset, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 17, 1823, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 10
Mr. John Barrington, (b. 1802), aged 35, Irish labourer who was convicted in Kilkdare, Ireland for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in 19th April 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1864 11
Elizabeth Barrington, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Orleana" in 1840 12
Mr. Frederick Barrington, English convict who was convicted in Salford, Manchester, Greater Manchester, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 4th October 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
Miss Thereza Charlotte Barrington who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 25th October 1850, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Barrington 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:

Barrington Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John M. Barrington, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Estrella" in 1870
Frederick C. Barrington, aged 25, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ballochmyle" in 1874
Fanny M. Barrington, aged 23, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ballochmyle" in 1874
Frederick W. Barrington, aged 2, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ballochmyle" in 1874
Mary Barrington, aged 28, a servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Salisbury" in 1876
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Barrington 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. 15

Barrington Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Isaac Barrington, who settled in Barbados in 1654
Isaac Barrington, who landed in Barbados in 1663 8
Abigail Barrington who settled in Barbados in 1664

Contemporary Notables of the name Barrington (post 1700) +

William Robinson Barrington (1796-1844), American politician, Mayor of Piqua, Ohio, 1840, 1843 16
Don Barrington (b. 1948), American Republican politician, Member of Oklahoma State Senate 31st District; Elected 2004, 2008 16
John Shute Barrington (1678-1734), 1st Viscount Barrington, an English lawyer and theologian 17
Daines Barrington FRS, FSA (1727-1800), English lawyer, antiquary and naturalist, fourth son of John Barrington, 1st Viscount Barrington 17
Joey Barrington (b. 1980), English professional squash player, son of Jonah Barrington
James "Jimmy" Barrington (b. 1901), English footballer
George Bainbridge Barrington (1857-1942), English cricketer who played first class cricket for Derbyshire between 1880 and 1887
Patrick William Daines Barrington (1918-1990), 11th Viscount Barrington, English nobleman
Herbert Barrington (1872-1933), English actor
Ernest Barrington (1909-1985), English Zoologist
... (Another 17 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Barrington 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: Ung durant ma vie
Motto Translation: The same while I live.

Citations +

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)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1823 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1823
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ORLEANA 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Orleana.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-gray
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 6 June 2019