Barzey Family History

From Bardsea (Lancs) or Bardsey (WR Yorks) with assimilation of /d/ before the sibilant as in Barsley for Bardsley. The Lancs name is recorded as Berretseige in 1086 and Berdeseia in 1155; the Yorks name is recorded in 1086 as Berdesei. Both are probably composed of the Old English personal name Beornrǣd in the genitive singular (-es) reduced to Berdes- + Old English ēg ‘island island-like hill’.

Reduced form of Bardsley (1) or its variant Beardsley. Compare George Beardsley 1567 in IGI (Lichfield Staffs) and Daniel Bardsley 1788 in IGI (Ashton under Lyne Lancs) with the 1581 and 1788 examples below. In SW England, a variant of Bardsley (2).

Possibly from Barsey Farm (Shudy Camps Cambs) recorded as terram Willelmi de Berardeshey 1307–27 in Place-Names of Cambs. The place-name is from the Old English given name Beornheard in the genitive case with -es + (ge)hæg ‘enclosure’.

Alternatively from Barsey Walk Farm (near Horncastle Lincs) though early forms of this place-name are unavailable. Mumby and Hogsthorpe, where the 1591 and 1621 examples are located, are not far from Horncastle.