Find out how popular the first name Barnard has been for the last 24 years (from 1975 to 1998) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Barnard by gender

Based on the last 24 years of data, Barnard is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 1998, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Barnard.

The history of the first name Barnard

The name Barnard is an English given name derived from the Old French and Germanic roots "barn" and "hard." The name can be traced back to the 11th century and was initially used to refer to someone who was hardy, strong, or brave like a bear.

In the Middle Ages, the name Barnard was particularly popular among the Norman nobility who had settled in England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists several individuals with the name Barnard as landowners and tenants.

The name Barnard has also been associated with religious figures throughout history. One notable example is Saint Barnard of Vienne, who lived in the 6th century and served as the Archbishop of Vienne in modern-day France. He is venerated as a patron saint of several French towns and villages.

In the 12th century, the name Barnard gained prominence with the rise of the Cistercian monastic order. Barnard of Clairvaux, born in 1090, was a renowned French abbot and theologian who played a significant role in the development of the Cistercian order. He is remembered for his influential writings and his contribution to the spread of monastic ideals.

Another notable figure who bore the name Barnard was Barnard of Pavia, a 12th-century Italian architect and sculptor. He is best known for his work on the Cathedral of Modena, which is considered a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture.

In the 16th century, the name Barnard was associated with the English philosopher and statesman, Francis Bacon, who was born in 1561. His full name was Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban, but he was also known by his childhood nickname, Barnard.

In the 19th century, the name Barnard gained prominence in the United States with the birth of Frederick Augustus Porter Barnard in 1809. He was an American educator and mathematician who served as the president of Columbia University from 1864 to 1889.

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 Barnard was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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