Show ContentsBerlings History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Berlings

What does the name Berlings mean?

This surname is a local name from Barling (or Barling Magna) which is a village and civil parish in Essex. The word "Barling" is said to derive from two Saxon words "ban", a boar, and "ing", a meadow. 1

Early Origins and Etymology of Berlings

The surname Berlings was first found in Essex at Barling, a parish, in the union and hundred of Rochford where "it comprises the manors of Barling and Mucking, the former of which is the property of the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's, London, by gift from Edward the Confessor. " 2

Barlings is a small parish, in the wapentake of Lawress, parts of Lindsey, in Lincolnshire where "an abbey for Praemonstratensian canons, dedicated to St. Mary, was founded in 1154. 2

The Essex parish is the oldest as it dates back to Saxon times when it was known as Baerlingum in 998. 1 By the time of the Domesday Book of 1086, it was known as Berlinga. 3 And it is here that the first record, that of Baddewin de Barling was recorded in 1240. Later, William de Berling was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327. 4

Early History of the Berlings family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Berlings research. Another 57 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1240, 1804, 1829, 1834, 1849, 1854 and 1883 are included under the topic Early Berlings History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Berlings Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Berlings are characterized by many spelling variations. 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. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Berlings include Barling, Berling, Barlins, Berlings, Barlin, Barlinge and many more.

Early Notables of the Berlings family

John Barling (1804-1883), English dissenting minister, born at Weymouth 11 Aug. 1804. He was educated for the ministry at Homerton, and settled as a Congregationalist minister at Square Chapel, Halifax, in 1829. His opinions becoming Unitarian, he resigned his charge in 1834, and became a worshipper at Northgate End Chapel...
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Berlings Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Berlings family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Berlings, or a variant listed above: Amelia Barlean, aged 24, who arrived at Ellis Island, in 1913; Addie Barling, aged 32, who arrived at Ellis Island from Sydenham, in 1893; Albert Barling, aged 22, who arrived at Ellis Island from Birmingham, in 1907.



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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