* As an English surname, from the place on the bank of the Thames, derived from the root of the noun barn. * Also as an English surname, variant of Barne, from both a Middle English personal name from Old Norse Bjǫrn and Old English Beorn, and from the noun barn (“child”). Semantically compare Child. * As an Irish surname, Anglicized from Ó Bearáin (literally “descendant of Bearán”), a byname from bior (“spear”). * As a French surname, variant of Bernes, from a short form of a Germanic name derived from Frankish *berō (“bear”), similar to Bernhard. * As a Jewish surname, variant of Parnes, from Yiddish פּרנס (prns), from Hebrew פַּרְנָס (“leader of a Jewish community, provider”).

Origin: Old Norse

Frequently asked questions

What does “Barnes” mean?

The word “Barnes” means an English surname, originally denoting someone who lived near a barn or stable.

How do you pronounce “Barnes”?

“Barnes” is pronounced bahnz (/bɑɹnz/ in IPA).

How do you use “Barnes” in a sentence?

Here is “Barnes” used in a sentence: “Barnes moved to London for work.”

What part of speech is “Barnes”?

“Barnes” is a name.

Is “Barnes” a common word?

“Barnes” is a fairly common word in modern English.

What is the origin of the surname Barnes?

Barnes is an English surname that originally described someone who lived or worked near a barn or stable. Surnames formed this way, from a nearby feature of the landscape, are known as topographic surnames.

Is Barnes a first name or a surname?

Barnes is chiefly an English surname, though like many surnames it is occasionally used as a given name. Its original meaning points to a person associated with a barn or stable.

What does the surname Barnes have to do with barns?

The name comes directly from the word 'barn': it marked out a person who lived beside, or worked at, a barn or stable. Over generations it settled into a fixed family name.