Barker Family History

English: occupational name for a tanner of leather from Middle English barkere ‘tanner’ tree bark having been used as the tanning agent.

English: occupational name for a shepherd from Middle English berker bercher (Old French berchier bercher berkier berker Late Latin berbicarius from berbex ‘ram’ genitive berbicis).

With the change of -ar- to -er- in Middle English this became indistinguishable from the preceding name (see 1 above).

Americanized form of German Berger or Barger.