Barley Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Barley Name Meaning: Habitational from any of the various places named 'Barley'. Lancashire & Yorkshire are named with old english bere 'barley' + leah 'woodland clearing'.

The name is of english origin and may have been occupational for a grower or seller of 'Barley'. (Barley-bread or cakes)

Discover how your Barley ancestors earned their living and spread across the country. Find out more about your family history by using the Free Search box.

Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Barley Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Barley family

Profession Census Frequency
Scholar 1,200
Agricultural Labourer 111
General Labourer 103
Coal Miner 93
Domestic Servant 80
Dress Maker 69
Living On Own Means 64
Labourer 63
Farm Labourer 60
Cotton Weaver 50
Living On Her Own Means 48
General Servant 45
General Servant Domestic 40
Farmer 39
Laundress 39
Carpenter 37
Gardener 36
House Keeper 28
General Domestic Servant 26
Farm Servant 26
Clerk 23
Errand Boy 23
Cook Domestic Servant 22
Cook 21
Tailor 21

Barley Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Barley 100% 29,528
2 Burley 83% 21,484
3 Brealey 57% 4,966
4 Borley 83% 4,183
5 Birley 83% 3,516
6 Bearley 86% 3,176
7 Brailey 71% 2,667
8 Berley 83% 1,738
9 Braley 67% 1,566
10 Briley 67% 1,260
11 Beerley 71% 870
12 Burly 67% 776
13 Barelay 71% 696
14 Brealy 33% 425
15 Bearly 67% 385
16 Barly 83% 348
17 Buerley 71% 345
18 Bareley 86% 290
19 Breley 67% 248
20 Broley 67% 213
21 Bierley 71% 197
22 Brieley 57% 190
23 Bruley 67% 190
24 Braily 50% 148
25 Aberley 71% 147
26 Briely 50% 129
27 Brely 50% 108
28 Barlay 83% 104

Did you know?

The surname Barley is the most popular version of all its varients

Search for the Barley family