Barmes
An English surname possibly derived from a Middle English place name.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 206 Americans carry the last name Barmes. That puts it at #102,688 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,663,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Barmes surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
206
1 in 1,663,856
Census rank
#102,688
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
175
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 175 bearers of the surname Barmes in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 102688th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Barmes, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.3%. The next largest groups are Black (8.0%) and Hispanic (2.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Barmes
The surname BARMES is of English origin, traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "bær" meaning "bare" and "mæsse" meaning "mass," possibly referring to a person who attended mass without shoes or socks.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where it is spelled "Barmes." This suggests that the name was already established in various parts of England by the late 12th century.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in the Assize Court Rolls of Yorkshire as "Barmys," indicating a slight variation in spelling. This version of the name may have been influenced by the Old Norse word "barmr," meaning "breast" or "bosom."
During the 14th century, the name BARMES was found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, recorded as "Barmesse." This spelling variation could be linked to the nearby town of Barmes Green, which was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Barmesse."
One notable bearer of the name was Robert BARMES, a merchant from Bristol who lived in the late 15th century. He is mentioned in several historical records from that time, including the Port Books of Bristol from 1479.
In the 16th century, the name BARMES appeared in the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Beverley, Yorkshire, where a certain Thomas BARMES was recorded as having been baptized in 1587.
Another prominent figure with this surname was William BARMES, a wealthy landowner from Gloucestershire who lived in the late 17th century. He is known for his contribution to the construction of the Barmes Almshouses in Cirencester, which still stand today.
In the 18th century, the BARMES name was found in various parts of England, including Lancashire and Derbyshire. One notable bearer was John BARMES (1714-1789), a renowned clockmaker from Birmingham who crafted several intricate timepieces that are now considered masterpieces of British horology.
The 19th century saw the BARMES name spread further across England, with records showing families bearing this surname in counties such as Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, and Staffordshire. One notable figure from this period was Charles BARMES (1823-1899), a wealthy industrialist from Leeds who owned several textile mills.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Barmes
Among Census respondents with the surname Barmes, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.3%. The next largest groups are Black (8.0%) and Hispanic (2.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Barmes bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Barmes surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White86.3%
- Black or African American8.0%
- Hispanic or Latino2.9%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Barmes surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #102,688 | #102,688 | 0.0% |
| Count | 175 | 175 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Barmes bearers went from 175 to 175 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #102,688 to #102,688.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Barmes
FAQ
Barmes surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Barmes?
The surname Barmes holds position #102,688 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 206 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Barmes surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Barmes, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.3%. The next largest groups are Black (8.0%) and Hispanic (2.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.