Find out how popular the first name Barclay has been for the last 48 years (from 1974 to 2021) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Barclay by gender

Based on the last 48 years of data, Barclay is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 97% of people named Barclay being male.

For the most recent data in 2021, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Barclay.

The history of the first name Barclay

The name Barclay has its origins in the ancient Scottish language. It is derived from the Scottish Gaelic words 'barra' meaning 'summit' and 'cle' meaning 'smooth'. The name is believed to have originated in the 11th or 12th century and was initially a locational surname referring to someone who lived near a smooth hilltop or summit.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name dates back to the 12th century when a man named Humphrey de Berkeley was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1176. The name was often spelled in various ways such as Barkeley, Barkley, and Berkley during the medieval period.

The name gained prominence in Scotland during the 13th century when the Clan Barclay, a Scottish clan, emerged in Aberdeenshire. The clan is said to have descended from John Barclay, a nobleman who lived during the reign of King Alexander III (1241-1286).

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Barclay. Robert Barclay (1648-1690) was a Scottish Quaker theologian and writer who is best known for his work 'An Apology for the True Christian Divinity'. Another prominent figure was John Barclay (1582-1621), a Scottish satirist and poet who authored the famous work 'Argenis'.

In the realm of exploration, Robert Barclay (1779-1854) was a British explorer and botanist who took part in several expeditions to the Arctic regions. Alexander Barclay (c.1475-1552) was a notable English poet and translator who is credited with introducing the term 'ship of fools' into the English language through his translation of Sebastian Brant's work 'Das Narrenschiff'.

Barclay Plager (1936-1988) was a renowned American ice hockey player and coach who played for the New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues in the National Hockey League (NHL). He later served as the head coach of the Blues and was a key figure in their success in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Barclay was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Barclay, please contact us.

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