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Irish surname

Barrett: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Báróid; Bairéid · Báróid: 'son of Baraud' (a Norman form of the Teutonic Berwald); Bairéid: 'son of Baret'

Barrett came to Ireland from outside. Woulfe (1923) gives two distinct origins: Báróid, 'son of Baraud' (a Norman form of the Teutonic Berwald), families who 'settled in Ireland at the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion' and were influential in Cork, and Bairéid, 'most probably Anglo-Saxon', the Barretts who settled in the 13th century in Tirawley, Co. Mayo, and later formed a clan after the Irish fashion. In 1890 Barrett births were chiefly in Dublin, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Galway and Mayo.

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Coat of arms associated with the Barrett surname
Irish formBáróid; Bairéid
MeaningBáróid: 'son of Baraud' (a Norman form of the Teutonic Berwald); Bairéid: 'son of Baret'
CountiesCork, Mayo, Kerry, Limerick
Other spellings1

Origin of the Barrett name

Two origins in Woulfe. Báróid: families who 'settled in Ireland at the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion', 'an influential family in Cork', the name 'still well known throughout Munster'. Bairéid: most probably Anglo-Saxon; settled in Tirawley in the 13th century and 'formed a clan after the Irish fashion', headed by Mac Bhaitín Bairéid, with sub-clans Clann Tóimín and Clann Aindriú.[1][2][3]

  1. 13th centuryBarretts settle in Tirawley and become numerous and powerful (Woulfe).[2]
  2. 13th centuryBarretts dispossess the Ó Caithniadh lords of Erris, Co. Mayo.[6]
  3. 1730George Barrett, landscape painter, born in Dublin.[8]
  4. 1810Captain John Barrett lost with the Minotaur and 490 of her crew.[11]
  5. 1890146 Barrett births, chiefly Dublin, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Galway and Mayo.[7]

Where in Ireland

Co. CorkThe Báróid Barretts were an influential family in Cork; a chief Barrett county in 1890.[1][7]
Co. MayoBarretts of Tirawley, Co. Mayo; a chief Barrett county in 1890.[3][2][7]
Co. KerryAmong the counties where Barrett was principally found in 1890.[7]
Co. LimerickAmong the counties where Barrett was principally found in 1890.[7]
Co. GalwayAmong the counties where Barrett was principally found in 1890.[7]
Co. DublinFirst county named for Barrett births in 1890.[7]

Notable people named Barrett

George Barrett1730–1784Dublin-born landscape painter; one of the originators and first members of the Royal Academy.[8]
Eaton Stannard Barrettd. 1820Writer born in Cork; best known for The Heroine, a mock romance.[9]
John Barrett, D.D.1753–1821Fellow and Vice-Provost of Trinity College Dublin; Professor of Oriental Languages.[10]
John Barrett, R.N.d. 1810Drogheda-born naval officer; perished with the Minotaur returning from the Baltic.[11]

Other spellings

Baret[2]

The Barrett coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Barrett surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Barrett crest gifts

Clan Barrett Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapQI82 Classic Cap - Barrett Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Barrett Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Barrett Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap EY42 Barrett Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Barrett Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00

Barrett surname: questions

Is Barrett an Irish name?

It came to Ireland from outside. Woulfe gives Báróid, families who settled at the Anglo-Norman invasion, and Bairéid, 'most probably Anglo-Saxon', who settled in Tirawley, Co. Mayo, in the 13th century and later formed a clan after the Irish fashion.[1][2]

What does the surname Barrett mean?

Woulfe gives Báróid as 'son of Baraud' (a Norman form of the Teutonic Berwald) and Bairéid as 'son of Baret'.[1][2]

Where in Ireland is the Barrett name from?

Two main areas: Cork and Munster (Báróid) and Tirawley, Co. Mayo (Bairéid). In 1890 Barrett births were chiefly in Dublin, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Galway and Mayo.[1][2][3][7]

What Irish names come from the Mayo Barretts?

Woulfe gives MacAndrew (Mac Aindriú) and Timmins (Mac Toimín) as names of branches of the Barretts of Tirawley; the head of the family was called Mac Bhaitín.[4][5][3]

Sources

  1. Báróid — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/b/baroid.php
  2. Bairéid — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/b/baireid.php
  3. Mac Bhaitín — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macb/mac-bhaitin.php
  4. Mac Aindriú — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/maca/mac-aindriu.php
  5. Mac Toimín — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/mact/mac-toimin.php
  6. Ó Caithniadh — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-caithniadh.php
  7. Barrett — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/barrett.php
  8. George Barrett — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/GeorgeBarrett.php
  9. Eaton Stannard Barrett — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/EatonStannardBarrett.php
  10. John Barrett, D.D. — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/JohnBarrettDD.php
  11. John Barrett, R.N. — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/JohnBarrettRN.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).