Barnick Family History

Germanized or Americanized form of Polish Barnik: from a pet form of the personal names beginning with Barn- based on the Pomeranian derivative of the Slavic name element bran ‘to defend’ (from Old Slavic branъ ‘defence’). Alternatively, a derivative of the personal name Bernard or a cognate of the Jewish name below.

Germanized or Americanized form of Sorbian Barnik: nickname from a shortened form of Baranik, a diminutive of Baran ‘ram’ or perhaps an occupational name from a shortened form of Old Polish bartnik ‘bee keeper’ (compare Bartnik).

Americanized form of Slovenian Bernik. Jewish (from Austrian Galicia): artificial name from the Ukrainian name barnyk for a kind of bird.