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Origins of the Barker surname

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What does the name Barker mean?

The origin of the surname Barker is English and has been found in records as early as 1200. Barker is an occupational surname that refers to those who stripped and prepared bark for use in the tanning process, and their descendants. The Barker name is more prevalent in the north of the country than in the south, where 'Tanner' is more frequently seen. A less common believed origin of this name is the Old French 'Berchier' (shepherd), and a Norman family 'Le Bercher' are thought to have been the progenitors of a number of notable Barker lines.

Alternative variations of the name Barker

Barker, Barkers, Barkess, Barkar, Berker

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Where do most Barkers live?

In 1921, most Barkers lived in Yorkshire.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Barkers

How common is your surname?

75th most common surname in the UK

We have 398,000 records for the Barker surname. The oldest one dates back to .

Who were Barkers most likely to marry?

Smiths

&

Browns

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Barkers.

What are the most common Barker first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Barker family members

Common jobs for Barkers

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Barkers in 1921
Dressmaker

1,555

Cotton Weaver

1,000

Domestic Servant

874

General Servant Domestic

840

Laundress

773

Common Male occupations for Barkers in 1921
Agricultural Labourer

1,882

Coal Miner

1,681

Farmer

1,327

General Labourer

1,236

Farm Labourer

1,045

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We found over 480,000 family trees with the Barker surname

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