Surname Barbery - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Barbery: What does the surname Barbery mean?
Barbery is a surname of French origin. The name is believed to have been derived from the medieval personal name Barbary, which itself is a variant of Barbara, a popular female name during the Middle Ages. The name Barbara comes from the Greek "barbaros" meaning "foreign".
The surname could also have occupational roots, tracing back to the Old French "barbier" referring to a barber or a surgeon; in the middle ages, the barber's duties often extended to minor surgeries and bloodletting. Therefore, Barbery might have originated as a professional surname for a barber.
Like many surnames, Barbery might have also been used as a geographic name linking individuals to specific locations. In this context, it could refer to a person from places like Barbary Coast in Northern Africa or Barbérieux in Southwestern France.
However, the exact origin and meaning of this surname can vary based on regions, families, and historical contexts, and could hold different significance across different lineages.
Order DNA origin analysisBarbery: Where does the name Barbery come from?
The surname Barbery is of French origin. It is derived from the Old French word 'barbier', meaning 'beard' and by extension, it was used to refer to a barber. During the Middle Ages, barbers also performed as doctors and dentists. Thus the profession was held in high regard and frequently featured as a surname. Its prevalence and frequency significantly increased after the seventeenth century.
Although the name Barbery is French in origin, people with this surname live in various parts of the world today. It is more commonly found in France, but it has also spread to other parts of Europe, North and South America, and Australia. Migration, especially during the periods of colonization, greatly contributed to the scattering of the Barbery surname across different continents. Despite its distribution, it is considered a rare surname overall. The surname Barbery remains most prevalent in France, particularly in the region of Normandy. Overall, any person bearing the Barbery surname would most likely have some French lineage, underscoring merely one of the numerous ways in which population movements have spread surnames far from their original locations.
Variations of the surname Barbery
The surname Barbery has several variants, spellings and related surnames through its history and geographical distribution. Some of these variants include: Barberie, Barbarie, Barbeary, Barberry, and Barbary.
It may also be seen with slight variations such as Barby, Barber, Barbera, and Barbe, reflecting the phonological changes across different languages and regions.
Certain sources highlight that this surname is of a locational origin, deriving from several places called Barberie in France, one notably in Normandy near Caen. Therefore, the surname may also appear in French-influenced forms, such as De Barberie or De la Barberie.
Some genealogical records show the spelling as Berbary or Bayerbery, which could be a result of transcription errors or local dialect influences.
The surnames Barbieri, Barbaro, or Barberio from Italy may share a common origin with Barbery, as they all relate to the occupation of a barber, but would need individual genealogical research to confirm.
The concentration of families with this surname in Yorkshire also led to the English variant of Barby.
Remember, individual genealogical and historical research is necessary to confirm the interconnectedness of these surnames with Barbery.
Famous people with the name Barbery
- Muriel Barbery: A well-known French author who gained international acclaim for her novel "The Elegance of the Hedgehog." Barbery's work is known for its philosophical nature and deep insights into the human condition.
- Pierre Barbery: A French racing cyclist who participated in numerous competitions during the mid-20th century, including the Tour de France.
- Ana Barbery: A Bolivian author, she’s known for her book "Los Rostros del Orgullo" portraying the country's rich culture and history.
- Jean Barbery: A French historian and professor of medieval history at Normandy University. Please note that while these individuals are relatively well-known in their respective fields, the surname 'Barbery' is not as common as more prevalent names in the entertainment or political spheres.