Surname Barkess - Meaning and Origin
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Barkess: What does the surname Barkess mean?
The last name Barkess is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a habitational surname derived from locations in Yorkshire. This surname first began to be used in the Middle Ages as a way to identify people from a particular area. The name is derived from the Old English word "bek," which means "beech" and is a reference to an area that is rife with beech trees.
The surname Barkess is associated with a number of locations across England, such as the town of Barkisland in West Yorkshire, and the hamlet of Barkess in Oxfordshire. Those locations trace their name back to the Old English "Bercasland," which translates to "land at the beech trees." This infers that the Barkess family likely originally lived in an area that was surrounded by beech trees.
Migration of the Barkess surname throughout the centuries has seen members of the family venture out from their original roots in Northern England and spread out across the country. Through the 19th and 20th centuries, some members of the Barkess family also left England altogether and traveled in search of better opportunities, namely to the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and other parts of the world.
The meaning of the surname Barkess is thus closely tied to its geographic origins and etymology. It is a reflection of a time in history where an area may have been marked out by its defining characteristic of many beech trees. Over time, the surname has evolved and spread out, resulting in the modern day Barkess family being found in all corners of the globe.
Order DNA origin analysisBarkess: Where does the name Barkess come from?
The last name Barkess is a rare surname, and today it is most common in the United Kingdom, particularly in the counties of West Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Surrey. Specifically, since 1881, over 30% of people with this last name have lived in West Yorkshire, with Yorkshire and the Humber in the UK having the highest concentration of the surname.
In the United States, the last name Barkess is much rarer. According to the US Census Bureau, in 2020 there were only 87 people with this last name living there. However, some clusters can be found in a few states, with the most occurring in California (5 people), Texas (5 people), New York (5 people), Pennsylvania (4 people), and Florida (3 people). In other English-speaking countries, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, the name is also quite rare.
Interestingly, the last name Barkess can also be found in parts of Central America, specifically in Belize. For instance, records indicate that some descendants of British colonists who arrived in Belize in 1854 still bear this last name.
Overall, the last name Barkess is quite rare and mostly found in England, the United States, and some Central American nations.
Variations of the surname Barkess
The surname Barkess is of English origin. It is a variant of the surname Berkes, and is derived from the patronymic name Berkes or Berketts, which is derived from the given name Barke or Birch. It can also be a variant of the German surname Burkhard or Burkhart. Variations of the surname Barkess include Barks, Bark, Barkes, Barkas, Barkes, Barkus, Barkiss, and Barckes.
Other variant spellings for the surname Barkess include Barkis, Barckis, Berkas, Berkes, Borkess, Borkas, Burkis, Burkhard, and Burkhart. Additional surnames of the same origin include Barkle, Barcley, Barckley, Barckly, Berkley, Barcly, and Berkely.
The surname Barkess may have been used to indicate an individual who lived near a grove of birch trees, as in the case of the place-name Barks Place, located in Somerset, England. In some cases, the surname may have been derived from Old English words such as 'birch' and 'bark', thus indicating a person who made or used products derived from bark. It can also suggest that the original bearer of the surname was an archer due to the reference to the use of birchwood in bow-making.
Overall, the surname Barkess is an ancient and meaningful name that has many variant spellings and surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Barkess
- Thomas Barkess: British actor and former Royal Shakespeare Company veteran.
- Nick Barkeß: former president of the German Football Association (DFB).
- Matthew Barkess: British television producer and director.
- Julia Barkeß: German singer and songwriter.
- Michael Barkess: Australian musician, singer, and songwriter.
- Robert Barkeß: British barrister and judge.
- Alexander Barkess: German painter and draughtsman.
- Josie Barkess: Australian actress and television presenter.
- Thomas Barkeß: American businessman and entrepreneur.
- Matthew Barkeß: British professional golfer.