BARRINGTON
Barrington is a surname of English origin and is traditionally regarded as a locational name, signifying descent from a village bearing that designation. The villages in question are situated in Gloucestershire, Somerset and Cambridgeshire, and the name has been recorded in a variety of spellings such as Barrington, Berrington, Bornton and Borrington.
The earliest etymological explanation links the surname to the Old-English word bere, meaning barley, coupled with tun, meaning a settlement or enclosure. Under this interpretation a person named Barrington would have lived in or near a barley‑growing settlement, or otherwise been connected with the cultivation or trade of barley.
An alternative derivation, also supported by early records, stems from the Old-English personal name Bara (related to the Germanic Baro, a nickname for a troublesome person) combined with the suffix -ing, meaning tribe, and -ton, meaning settlement. Consequently the place name Barrington could have denoted “the settlement of Bara’s people.” This view is nourished by the observation that the Anglo-Saxons, who were frequently regarded as troublesome by the pre‑7th century English, may have contributed a double meaning to the name.
The first known rendering of the family name is Warin de Barenton, noted in the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273, during the reign of King Edward I. Later church registers record individuals such as Judeth Barrington, who married John Barker on 11 February 1593 at St. Benedict’s, Cambridge; Anthonye Barrington, christened on 22 July 1599 in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire; and Isack Borrington, who wed Amy Culcup on Boxing Day 1652 in London, in the reign of Oliver Cromwell.
In the mid‑16th century an English family bearing the name Barrington settled in County Leix, Ireland, with further branches establishing themselves in County Cork around 1650. Thus, while of English origin, the surname has long been common in Ireland as well.
Other locational features described in the earliest sources indicate that Barrington may also derive from the Old-English words bearu (grove) and tun (town). This interpretation suggests that the name marked a settlement situated near a grove that served as a refuge or a place of refuge. Such a meaning aligns with the contemporary connotations of belonging and stability associated with the surname.
In Britain today Barrington is predominantly found in England, especially within London and the south‑east and south‑west regions. The Isle of Wight exhibits a notable concentration of individuals who carry the surname. Occasional occurrences are recorded in Scotland, particularly in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and a fewer number appear in counties such as Bedfordshire, Durham, and Huntingdonshire.
Variant forms of the surname have appeared throughout English history. Biographical compilations list versions such as Barringdon, Barrinton, Berryngton, Barington, and Barringtun, reflecting regional spelling differences. In modern naming, surnames combining Barrington with a second element— for example Barrington‑Smith, Barrington‑Brookes, or Barrington‑Brown—have emerged as a result of marriage or personal choice.
While the surname Barrington is largely of Anglo‑Saxon provenance, it has also been encountered in the United States as an Americanised version of the German surname Bartholomae, and occasionally is linked to the Irish name de Bairrtighearnaigh. Nevertheless, the most substantial body of records and linguistic evidence places its roots firmly in England, with subsequent dispersion into Ireland and other parts of the English‑speaking world.
Typical given names associated with the Barrington surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Simon
- Stephen
Female
- Christine
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Jane
- Joan
- Louise
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Baring
- Barington
- Brarington
- Barring
- Bartington
- Bearington
- Berington
- Berrington
- Boringdon
- Borington
- Borringdon
- Borrington
- Brayington
- Brington
- Broington
- Bryington
- Burington
- Burrington
- Bearing
- Bermington
- Berring
- Berrinton
- Birkington
- Birmington
- Birring
- Bortington
- Bruington
- Burlington
- Burnington
- Burring
- Brewington
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Barrington in...
Braille
⠃⠁⠗⠗⠊⠝⠛⠞⠕⠝
Morse
-....-.-..-...-.--.-----.
Semaphore
There are approximately 2,775 people named Barrington in the UK. That makes it roughly the 3,224th most common surname in Britain. Around 43 in a million people in Britain are named Barrington.
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 Barrington
- Michael Barrington - Actor (1924 to 1988)
- Ken Barrington - Cricketer (1930 to 1981)
- Joey Barrington - Squash player
- Diana Barrington - Actress
- Jonah Barrington - Irish squash player
- Patrick Barrington, 11th Viscount Barrington - Poet (1908 to 1990)
- George Barrington - Cricketer (1857 to 1942)
- Jimmy Barrington - Football player
- Shute Barrington - Bishop (1734 to 1826)
- James Barrington - Cricketer
- Marcel Barrington - Football player
- Richard Barrington - Rugby union player
- Barrington - Athlete
- William Barrington - Diplomat (1842 to 1922)
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.