Get access to Barnston family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Barnston Family History

Barnston Surname Meaning

From Barnardiston (Suffolk), which is recorded as Bernardeston in 1194 and Barneston in 1524 (Subsidy Rolls), the place-name derives from either the Old English personal name Beornheard (genitive Beornheardes) or the Continental Germanic personal name Bernhard (Middle English Bernard, genitive Bernardes) + Old English tūn (Middle English toun) meaning ‘farmstead settlement’.

From Barnston (Cheshire), which is recorded as Bernestone in 1086, Berlestona in 1150, and Bernuston in 1348, the medieval bearers cited below shed light on the etymology of the place-name, which derives from either the Old English personal name Beornwulf (genitive Beornwulfes) or the Old Scandinavian personal name Bjǫrnúlfr (genitive Bjǫrnúlfs) + Old English tūn meaning ‘farmstead settlement’.

Perhaps occasionally derived from one or more of a number of other places with similar names, such as Barnston (Essex), which is recorded as Bernestuna in 1086 and Berneston in 1221, and Barnstone in Langar cum Barnstone (Notts), recorded as Bernestune in 1086 and Berniston in 1298.

These two place-names derive from the Old English personal name Beorn (genitive Beornes) + tūn meaning ‘farmstead settlement’. Some of the bearers cited here may belong to (1) or (2).

Source: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain, 2021

Similar surnames:

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

Where is the Barnston family from?

You can see how Barnston families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Barnston family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1861 and 1920. The most Barnston families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1911 there were 3 Barnston families living in Quebec. This was 100% of all the recorded Barnston's in Canada. Quebec had the highest population of Barnston families in 1911.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Barnston surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Barnston

What did your Barnston ancestors do for a living?

View Census Data for Barnston | Data not to scale

England shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Female Occupations In 1939

Unpaid Domestic Duties
56%
Unpaid Domestic
23%
Unpaid Home Duties
23%

What Barnston family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 510 census records available for the last name Barnston. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Barnston census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Barnston

Passenger Lists

There are 149 immigration records available for the last name Barnston. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Barnston immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 72 military records available for the last name Barnston. For the veterans among your Barnston ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Barnston military records

You've only scratched the surface of Barnston family history

Discover More

What is the average Barnston lifespan?

Between 1972 and 1996, in the United States, Barnston life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1972, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Barnston in 1972 was 58, and 80 in 1996.

Start a 14-Day Free Trial