Surname Barkley - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling the Threads of the Past: A Barkley's Journey Through Time with iGENEA DNA

A genetic test is a lens that can provide insights into the past that history books may have forgotten or overlooked. Such was my journey when I committed to an iGENEA DNA test. This journey led me to the source of my surname, 'Barkley,' and painted a colorful narrative of a family's transition from the English lowlands to the Scottish Highlands.

M. Barkley

Barkley: What does the surname Barkley mean?

The surname Barkley is of English origin and is derived from various place names in England. It primarily originated from Berkeley, a town in Gloucestershire, England. The name Berkeley itself means "birch tree clearing" in Old English, derived from the words 'beorc' (birch) and 'leah' (clearing or meadow). So, the surname Barkley loosely translates as someone who resides or is from the birch tree meadow. This was a common method of surname creation in England, where the name of a location was adopted as a surname by the lords, landowners, or inhabitants of that particular region. The name has various spellings including Barclay, Berkley, Barcley, etc. One of the earliest recorded instances of this name dates back to the 11th century with Robert de Berkeley in Gloucestershire. Through migration and time, the name has spread through many English-speaking nations around the world. Notably, the surname Barkley became well-known in America through Charles Barkley, a former professional basketball player.

Barkley: Where does the name Barkley come from?

The surname Barkley is of Old English origin. It first originated in Gloucestershire, England from a place called Berkeley, which derived from the Old English words 'beorc', meaning birch tree, and 'leah', meaning wood or clearing, thus the name was initially given to identify a person from that locality.

While the name has British roots, it has also spread over centuries through emigration and exploration to various parts of the world. Barkley is now common in many English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States. The name in the United States has concentrations in some states more than others, primarily due to settlement patterns of English immigrants.

According to Forebears, a site that tracks the distribution of surnames globally, the highest number of people with the Barkley surname are found in the United States, followed by Canada and Scotland. However, the surname is most common in Northern Ireland in terms of frequency relative to the population size. Like many other surnames, the distribution of the Barkley surname continues to evolve over time.

Variations of the surname Barkley

The surname Barkley has origins traced back to Scotland and England. It was primarily derived either from the town of Berkley in Gloucestershire, England, or from a place in Scotland meaning "birch tree meadow" in Old English. Hence, the variants of this surname generally exhibit similar traits or phonetic semblance.

Variant spellings for the surname Barkley include Berkeley, Berkley, Barcley, Barclay, Barckley, Bartley, Berklee, Barklie, Barkly, Barcly, and Barklee. Notable amongst surnames with similar origins of the Old English term "berclaeg" meaning birch lea, are Berclay, Bercley, and Berckley.

It's important to note that many variations of the surname Barkley likely arose from geographical relocations of families, literacy levels (or transcription errors) during ancient times when surnames were first being employed, hence explaining the number of variations in spelling. Due to historic migration, descendants of the family have found themselves across the globe, often carrying slightly modified versions of the original surname. This helps to explain the variations and spellings associated with the Barkley surname.

Famous people with the name Barkley

• Charles Barkley: A retired professional American basketball player who is currently an analyst on Inside the NBA. He was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
• Ross Barkley: An English professional footballer who plays for Aston Villa, on loan from Chelsea, and the England national team.
• Louie B. Barkley: A former American basketball player who had a short stint in the NBA.
• Alben W. Barkley: An American lawyer and politician from Kentucky who served as the vice president of the United States from 1949 to 1953.
• Charles E. Barkley: An American politician who is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates.
• Saquon Barkley: An American football running back for the New York Giants of the NFL.
• Stephen R. Barkley: An American author and consultant specializing in the area of teacher quality.
• Michael Barkley: A retired Australian professional rugby league footballer.
• Matt Barkley: An American football quarterback who is a free agent.
• Gnarls Barkley: A duo consisting of musician Danger Mouse and singer-songwriter CeeLo Green, known for their hit song "Crazy". This list consists of individuals from various fields such as sports, politics, music, and literature.

Other surnames

Barklow