Find out how popular the last name Barefield is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Barefield.

Barefield, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Barefield surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Barefield in America

Barefield is the 12170th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Barefield surname appeared 2,561 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Barefield.

We can also compare 2010 data for Barefield to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Barefield

The surname Barefield is believed to have originated in England, dating back to the early medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a place called Barefield, which may have referred to a field or enclosure where barley was grown.

One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholdings and population commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Barevelda," suggesting a potential connection to the Old English words "bære" (barley) and "feld" (field).

In the 13th century, records show the name spelled as "Bareveld" and "Barfield," likely influenced by regional dialects and variations in pronunciation. It is believed that the suffix "-field" was later added to the name, forming the modern spelling of "Barefield."

Notable individuals bearing this surname include Sir John Barefield (1480-1547), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. Another early figure was William Barefield (1565-1632), a renowned scholar and clergyman who served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Cambridge.

During the 17th century, the Barefield family established themselves in various regions of England, including Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. One notable member was Thomas Barefield (1612-1677), a successful merchant and philanthropist who contributed significantly to the development of his local community.

In the 18th century, the name gained further recognition with the birth of Robert Barefield (1725-1801), a renowned author and historian who wrote extensively about the English Civil War. His works are still widely studied and referenced by scholars today.

Another notable figure from this era was Elizabeth Barefield (1738-1816), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's education. She founded one of the first schools for girls in London and played a significant role in promoting educational opportunities for women.

As the centuries progressed, the Barefield surname continued to be represented by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scientists, and military personnel. While the exact origins of the name may be shrouded in the mists of time, its enduring presence in historical records and its association with accomplished individuals highlight its rich heritage and significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Barefield

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Barefield.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Barefield was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Barefield has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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