Barnett Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Barnett last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Barnett last name
Meaning of the Barnett last name: dweller by land cleared by burning. Barnett is an English name for someone who lived by land cleared by burning, from the Old English word bærnet. It can also come from the personal name Bernard. A curious detail: clearing woodland with fire was a common way to make new farmland in early England, and the practice left its mark in several place names and surnames.
Arms associated with the Barnett name
Animals on English shields were chosen for the qualities they stood for, such as the lion for courage, a tradition the Barnett name belongs to.
Get your full Barnett family history
This is only a glimpse of the Barnett story. The full Barnett history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Barnett coat of arms. Get the full Barnett report.
Barnett name FAQ
What does the Barnett name mean?
Dweller by land cleared by burning. Common variants include Barnet, Burnett, Bernard.
Where does the Barnett surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Northern Ireland.
Is there a Barnett coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Barnett coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.