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

Barry, 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 Barry surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Barry in America

Barry is the 738th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Barry surname appeared 47,274 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 16 people would have the surname Barry.

We can also compare 2010 data for Barry 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 Barry

The surname Barry is of Anglo-Norman origin, derived from the Old French word "barre" meaning a barrier or tollgate. It is believed to have originated in Normandy, France, before being brought to England by Norman settlers after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

In England, the name was initially associated with individuals who lived near or were responsible for maintaining a tollgate or barrier. The earliest known record of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Barre" in various counties including Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, the name evolved to take on various spellings such as Barry, Bary, and Barri. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was William de Barry, who lived in the 12th century and held lands in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

Another notable figure was Gerald de Barry, also known as Giraldus Cambrensis (c. 1146-1223), a renowned Welsh cleric, author, and historian. He wrote extensively about the Norman conquest of Ireland and is considered one of the most important medieval writers in Britain.

In Ireland, the name Barry became prominent during the Anglo-Norman invasion of the late 12th century. One of the most illustrious families bearing this name was the Barry family of County Cork, who traces their ancestry back to Philip de Barry, a Norman knight who accompanied King Henry II to Ireland in 1171. The Barry family played a significant role in Irish history and held influential positions in the region for centuries.

In the United States, the Barry surname can be traced back to early colonial times. One of the first recorded individuals with this name was John Barry (c. 1745-1803), known as the "Father of the American Navy." He was an Irish-born merchant mariner and naval officer who became the first commissioned officer in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War.

Other notable individuals with the surname Barry include:

1. James Barry (c. 1789-1865), an Irish physician who lived as a man and was renowned for performing one of the first successful cesarean sections in the British Empire.
2. Sir Charles Barry (1795-1860), an English architect best known for designing the Houses of Parliament in London.
3. Marie Barry (1917-2014), an American film and television actress who appeared in numerous productions during the Golden Age of Hollywood.
4. John Barry (1933-2011), an English composer and conductor who won multiple Academy Awards for his film scores, including "Born Free" and "Dances with Wolves."

The surname Barry has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been borne by many notable figures across various fields. Its origins can be traced back to the Norman settlers in England and their subsequent expansion into Ireland, where it became a prominent name associated with powerful families and influential individuals.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Barry

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

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

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

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