History of your Surname
Get access to Barnett family records.Start a free trial

Barnett Family History

Barnett Name Meaning

English: habitational name from various places for example Chipping (High) Barnet East Barnet and Friern Barnet in Greater London named with Old English bærnet ‘place cleared by burning’ (a derivative of bærnan ‘to burn to set light to’). English (of Norman origin): from a medieval personal name a variant of Bernard . Jewish (Ashkenazic): this surname has been adopted by Ashkenazic Jews in the English-speaking world perhaps as an Anglicized form of a vaguely similar Jewish name such as Baruch .

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


Similar surnames: Barrett, Arnett, Garnett, Barnes, Barlett, Burgett, Barner, Baskett

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Barnett family from?

You can see how Barnett families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Barnett family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Barnett families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 2,657 Barnett families living in London. This was about 19% of all the recorded Barnett's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Barnett families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Barnett surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Barnett 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 Barnett. 7% of Barnett men worked as a General Labourer and 66% of Barnett women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Barnett were Retired and Incapacitated. .

View Census Data for Barnett | 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
    7%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Retired
    2%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    66%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Barnett family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 645,000 census records available for the last name Barnett. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Barnett census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Barnett

Passenger Lists

There are 63,000 immigration records available for the last name Barnett. 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 Barnett immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 98,000 military records available for the last name Barnett. For the veterans among your Barnett ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Barnett military records

You've only scratched the surface of Barnett family history

Discover More

What is the average Barnett lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Barnett life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1941, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Barnett in 1941 was 19, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Barnett

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Barnett family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Barnett last name

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