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

Barrier, 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 Barrier surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Barrier in America

Barrier is the 10657th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Barrier surname appeared 3,002 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 Barrier.

We can also compare 2010 data for Barrier 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 Barrier

The surname Barrier is of French origin, deriving from the French word "barrière," which means a barrier or obstacle. It is believed to have emerged as a surname during the 12th or 13th century.

The name is thought to have originated in the northern regions of France, particularly in areas like Normandy and Brittany. It may have been initially used as a descriptive surname for individuals who lived near or worked at a barrier or toll gate, or for those who were responsible for maintaining barriers or fortifications.

Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name Barrier can be found in various medieval documents and records, such as the Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Savigny, which dates back to the 12th century. This cartulary, or collection of charters, mentions individuals with the surname Barrier, indicating its existence during that period.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name Barrier was Jean Barrier, a French nobleman who lived in the late 13th century. He was a landowner and served as a knight in the service of King Philip IV of France, also known as Philip the Fair.

Another notable figure with the surname Barrier was Guillaume Barrier, a French scholar and theologian who lived during the 15th century. He was born in Normandy around 1420 and gained recognition for his contributions to the field of theology and his works on ecclesiastical law.

In the 16th century, Pierre Barrier, a French explorer and navigator, played a significant role in the exploration of the Americas. He accompanied Jacques Cartier on his voyages to the New World and helped map the coastlines of present-day Canada and the northeastern United States.

During the 17th century, the name Barrier was associated with several prominent figures in France. One such individual was Jean-Baptiste Barrier, a French playwright and author who lived from 1638 to 1712. He wrote several successful plays and was known for his satirical works.

Another notable figure from this period was Nicolas Barrier, a French architect and engineer who lived from 1663 to 1739. He was responsible for the design and construction of several notable buildings and structures in Paris, including the Palais Bourbon, which currently serves as the seat of the French National Assembly.

As the surname Barrier spread across different regions of France, it evolved into various spellings and variations, such as Barrière, Barriere, and Barrier. Some of these variations can be traced back to specific areas or local dialects, reflecting the diversity of the French language and its regional variations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Barrier

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

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

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

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