Origins of the Barker surname
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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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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