Barrymore
An English habitational surname derived from "Barrymore" in County Cork, Ireland.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 137 Americans carry the last name Barrymore. That puts it at #129,825 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,501,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Barrymore 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
137
1 in 2,501,856
Census rank
#129,825
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
131
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 131 bearers of the surname Barrymore in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 129825th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Barrymore, the largest self-reported group is White at 64.1%. The next largest groups are Black (25.9%) and Hispanic (6.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Barrymore
The surname Barrymore originated in Ireland, specifically in the south of the country. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic words "barr" meaning "top" or "summit" and "muir" meaning "sea", likely referring to a place or landscape feature. The name was first recorded in the 12th century.
The earliest known bearer of the name was Philip de Barri, also known as Giraldus Cambrensis, a Welsh cleric and author who lived from around 1146 to 1223. In his writings, he mentions the Barrymore family as being descended from the Norman knight Robert FitzStephen, one of the first Anglo-Normans to invade Ireland in 1169.
The Barrymore family is closely associated with County Cork, where they held significant lands and titles from the 12th century onwards. The Barrymore Castle, located near Midleton, was the family's ancestral seat for centuries.
One notable figure in the family's history was Richard Barry, 4th Earl of Barrymore, who lived from 1769 to 1823. He was an Irish nobleman, politician, and theatrical enthusiast, known for his extravagant lifestyle and patronage of the arts.
Another famous bearer of the name was John Barrymore, an American actor of Irish descent who lived from 1882 to 1942. He was a member of the renowned Barrymore acting family and is considered one of the greatest actors of the early 20th century.
The name Barrymore also appears in historical records from the 14th century, such as the Pipe Rolls of County Cork, where variations like "Barrymore" and "Barymoore" are found.
Other notable individuals with the surname Barrymore include Ethel Barrymore, an American actress and member of the Barrymore acting family (1879-1959), and Drew Barrymore, an American actress and producer who is a descendant of the famous Barrymore family (born in 1975).
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Barrymore
Among Census respondents with the surname Barrymore, the largest self-reported group is White at 64.1%. The next largest groups are Black (25.9%) and Hispanic (6.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Barrymore 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 Barrymore surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White64.1%
- Black or African American25.9%
- Hispanic or Latino6.9%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Barrymore 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 | #129,825 | #129,825 | 0.0% |
| Count | 131 | 131 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Barrymore bearers went from 131 to 131 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #129,825 to #129,825.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Barrymore
FAQ
Barrymore surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Barrymore?
The surname Barrymore holds position #129,825 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 137 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Barrymore surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Barrymore, the largest self-reported group is White at 64.1%. The next largest groups are Black (25.9%) and Hispanic (6.9%). 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.