Where Does the Barny Surname Come From?

Spelled Barny, the surname still points back to Barney. Its meaning, shared with Barney, is “Little Bernard / from Barney”. Barny drops the “e” of Barney, a simplification that clerks often made. Census takers and immigration officers often wrote what they heard. You may also find the name written Barnie.

Between 1891 and 2000, 727 babies born in France were registered as Barny, with the most births in 1951–1960. Births ran at 30 in 1891–1900 and 61 in 1991–2000. Similar-sounding surnames on Herald Lab: Barany, Baran and Baron.

Looking for a Barny coat of arms? Arms were granted to families, not to surnames, and our research shows which heraldic tradition fits yours. Research your Barny family history with a full surname report and painted coat of arms.