This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Barnsley family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Barnsley Family History

Barnsley Surname Meaning

English (West Midlands): habitational name from any of several places so called such as Barnsley (Yorkshire), Barnsley (Gloucestershire), and Barnsleyhall in Bromsgrove (Worcestershire). The places are named from Old English lēah ‘wood glade clearing’ preceded by one of several personal names in the genitive case with -es.

In Yorkshire, the personal name is Beorn; in Gloucestershire and possibly Worcestershire it is Beornmōd.

Compare Bardsley.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Barnsley family from?

You can see how Barnsley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Barnsley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Barnsley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 334 Barnsley families living in Staffordshire. This was about 24% of all the recorded Barnsley's in United Kingdom. Staffordshire had the highest population of Barnsley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Barnsley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Barnsley ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Barnsley. 20% of Barnsley men worked as a General Labourer and 73% of Barnsley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Barnsley were Colliery Hewer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Barnsley | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    20%
  • Incapacitated
    11%
  • Motor Driver
    8%
  • Colliery Hewer
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    73%
  • Unpaid Domestic Dut
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%

What Barnsley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 21,000 census records available for the last name Barnsley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Barnsley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Barnsley

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Barnsley. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Barnsley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Barnsley. For the veterans among your Barnsley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Barnsley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Barnsley family history

Discover More

What is the average Barnsley lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Barnsley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1969, and highest in 1987. The average life expectancy for Barnsley in 1962 was 53, and 88 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Barnsley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Barnsley ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Barnsley family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial