BARRAS
Barras is a surname of French origin, derived from the Old French word barre, which translates as bar or obstacle. This etymology suggests that the name was first applied as a nickname to an individual who resided near a physical barrier or gate, or who performed the role of a gatekeeper.
In addition to its occupational roots, the surname also appears as a locational name. It is associated with the village of Barras in the former county of Westmorland, and may have been adopted by those who migrated from that settlement. Alternatively, in some instances the name is topographical, referring to a stand of woods or a grove, rendered in historical documents as bearwes. Such locational surnames were traditionally given to people after they departed their original homes, serving as a convenient form of identification for strangers.
The spelling of the name has varied considerably over the centuries, reflecting local dialects and inconsistent orthography. Recorded variations include Barras, Barrass, Barrasse, Baress, Barus, Barrus and even Beeres. The earliest surviving reference is the entry for Adam de Barewes in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire dated 1192, during the reign of King Richard I, the Lionheart.
In the Greater London area the name appears in chural records from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Examples include John Barus, christened at St. Stephens, Coleman Street, on 24 October 1541; Joane Beeres, who married William Burham at St. Michael Poultry on 31 July 1549; and Roberte Barrasse, the son of John, christened at St. Martin Ludgate, London, on 14 July 1566. A further instance is Mary Barrass, who married Borert Severns at Allhallows, London Wall, on 19 December 1710.
The surname remains relatively uncommon but is documented across England, particularly in the North West and the capital region. Its origin, rooted in French language and culture, together with its adoption as a locational or topographical marker, illustrates the complex ways in which surnames evolved in post‑Norman Britain.
Typical given names associated with the Barras surname
Male
- Andrew
- Arthur
- Christopher
- Colin
- David
- Edward
- James
- John
- Paul
- Stephen
- William
Female
- Caroline
- Charity
- Dawn
- Denise
- Jean
- Joan
- Linda
- Margaret
- Michelle
- Nicola
- Sandra
- Sarah
- Susan
- Victoria
Similar and related surnames
- Bara
- Baires
- Baars
- Barac
- Baira
- Bahra
- Barra
- Barrasa
- Bairs
- Barai
- Barar
- Baras
- Barash
- Barasi
- Barass
- Barassi
- Baray
- Baraz
- Barea
- Bares
- Barr
- Barrack
- Barracks
- Barrage
- Barrak
- Barral
- Barram
- Barran
- Barrans
- Barrar
- Barrass
- Barrasso
- Barrat
- Barrats
- Barrau
- Barraw
- Barray
- Barraza
- Barrea
- Barree
- Barres
- Barrese
- Barresi
- Barress
- Barries
- Barris
- Barrois
- Barros
- Barrows
- Barrs
- Barrus
- Barrys
- Bars
- Baura
- Bayrs
- Berra
- Berray
- Berres
- Biras
- Boras
- Borras
- Bouras
- Buras
- Burra
- Burras
- Burrass
- Burray
- Burres
- Barak
- Barals
- Barans
- Barao
- Barara
- Barasch
- Barascu
- Barias
- Baris
- Baros
- Barraco
- Barrago
- Barrags
- Barrah
- Barrall
- Barranes
- Barrate
- Barratt
- Barre
- Barreca
- Barrels
- Barreras
- Barrets
- Barus
- Barys
- Barz
- Bauers
- Bawa
- Beara
- Beares
- Bears
- Bera
- Bira
- Birrs
- Bora
- Borase
- Bourees
- Bura
- Burrs
- Birss
- Brass
- Breeze
- Burris
- Burrows
- Byres
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Barras in...
Braille
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Morse
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There are approximately 897 people named Barras in the UK. That makes it roughly the 8,044th most common surname in Britain. Around 14 in a million people in Britain are named Barras.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Barras
- Sid Barras - Racing cyclist
- Charlotte Barras - Female rugby union player
- Tom Barras - Rower
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.