Surname Barns - Meaning and Origin
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Barns: What does the surname Barns mean?
The last name Barns is typically of English or Scottish origin and is derived from the Middle English term ‘bern’, meaning ‘soil with a high clay content’. It is likely to have been a topographical surname referring to someone with a physical belonning to such soil, or referring to an area they lived on or owned.
In Scotland, the term ‘barn’ initially came to refer to a clay-rich hill, usually an artificial mound, or may have been a name for a settlement located atop a clay-rich hill. Over time this term came to be used as a surname.
In Old English the distinct word -barn meant either a place to store grain or a granary, and could also refer to a store for money, hence, the surname Barns could have meant a keeper of grain or barns.
Through the years, Barns is likely to have evolved from its original spelling into several variations, some of the most common being Barn and Barnes.
Barns is most commonly found as a surname through England and Scotland but has also been known to be found at times in Australia, Canada and the United States. There is, however, no easily ascertainable record of when the surname first appeared.
Order DNA origin analysisBarns: Where does the name Barns come from?
The last name Barns is a relatively common one in the United States today. According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2020, the Barns surname ranks 7,113th in frequency throughout the country, and the first name Barns is particularly popular in the South.
In Virginia, the name ranks 435th in frequency and is particularly popular in the counties of Brunswick, Dinwiddie, Greene, and Westmoreland, as well as in the city of Norfolk.
In North Carolina, the Barns name ranks 848th in frequency and is most popular in the counties of Dare, Forsyth, Guilford, and Mecklenburg, as well as in the cities of Charlotte and Greensboro.
In South Carolina, the name Barns is relatively popular and ranks 529th in frequency, with counties such as Beaufort, Berkeley, and Sumter being particularly favorable locations for those bearing this name.
Finally, in Florida, the Barns surname ranks 927th in frequency and is popular in the counties of Broward, Duval, Escambia, and Hillsborough, as well as in the city of Miami.
Variations of the surname Barns
The surname Barns has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Barnett, Barnet, Barnette, Bernet, Bernette, Berns, Bernt, Berent, Beannt, and Barne. It is likely derived from the name Bernat or Bernard, which is of Germanic origin, being a combination of the elements "beraht" (bright, famous) and "wulf" (wolf). It may also be derived from the Old English personal names "beorn" (warrior) or "bearn" (child).
The surname Barns appears in several forms throughout Europe. In England, the surname Barns is mainly found throughout the West Midlands, especially in the counties of Shropshire and Staffordshire. It is also found in parts of Lancashire. In Scotland, the surname Barns is mainly found in Aberdeenshire, Kincardineshire, and Midlothian. In France, the surname Barns or Bernat is mainly found in the Limoges region. In Spain, the surname Barns is mainly found in Barcelona and Castilla-La Mancha.
Variations of the surname Barns may constitute different surnames, such as Burnes, Barnes, Byrnes in England, or Perarns in France. It can also have similar spellings to one another, such as Burns and Berne. The different spellings of the surname Barns are mainly attributed to the lack of standard spelling conventions during the 16th to 19th centuries. Ultimately, the surname Barns has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Barns
- Nigel Barns: English footballer
- Bob Barnes: American political advisor
- Jesus Barns: Spanish basketball player
- George Barns: British politician
- Ansel Barns: American lawyer
- Paul Barns: American racecar driver
- Joe Barns: American soldier and politician
- Nathan Barns: American musician
- Martin Barns: South African cricket player
- David Barns: British composer and conductor