Surname Fairbarns - Meaning and Origin
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Fairbarns: What does the surname Fairbarns mean?
The surname Fairbarns is of English and possibly Scottish origin and is a topographical name for someone who lived near a fair barn or a large farm building. This surname is also believed to be derived from the Old English word "fearn", meaning fern and "barn", meaning barn.
The Fairbarns surname is derived from the place name Fairburn, found in various locations in Britain, which means a fern covered hill or clearing. A place of this name is mentioned in the 1294 document, Taxatio Ecclesiastica Angilorum of the Pope Nicholas IV. Another place named Fairburn is recorded in the 1202 Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, England.
The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Roger de Fairburne, which was dated 1208, in the "Old Accounts of the Manor of Ellerton", North Riding, Yorkshire, England. Other recorded variations of the name include Faireburne, Fairburne, Fairbourn, Fairborne and Fairbourne.
The Fairbarns family tree is believed to have begun in the 14th century in Britain. The Fairbarns are still found in some of the same areas of England, such as Yorkshire and Lancashire. Today, people with this surname can be found in many countries throughout the world.
Order DNA origin analysisFairbarns: Where does the name Fairbarns come from?
The last name Fairbarns is a fairly uncommon name with limited geographical occurrence. Primarily, Fairbarns is most common in the United Kingdom and Australia, with research from the UK's 2011 census estimates there are a total of 837 people with the surname Fairbarns living in the United Kingdom. Areas of highest concentration are London (672) and Northumberland (118). In Australia there are census records of 289 Fairbarns across all states and territories.
Other than these two countries, there are also a limited number of Fairbarns in Ireland. A small number of the Fairbarns have also emigrated to the United States, where records exist in Pennsylvania and California. Additionally, historical records suggest a smaller presence Fairbarns in Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa.
The surname Fairbarns is believed to have originated in the county of Northumberland in North East England and the name may have been derived from a city or town in the area. Records show that the lineage of the Fairbarns can be traced back to the late 1700s in England and the name's earliest known usage is from the English surname Fairburns, which first appeared in records from the Northumberland area in 1663.
Given its limited geographical occurrence and the relocations to different countries, it is quite understandable why the surname Fairbarns is not more common today.
Variations of the surname Fairbarns
The surname Fairbarns is an old medieval English name usually spelled Farbarns or Farbarn. It is derived from the Old English words “fearn” and “barn”, which were used to describe a probable location of a barn or fernbrake. The word “fearn” was also an early name for the fern plant, and fairbarns was literally used to identify those who raised and sold ferns.
Variations in spelling of this surname include Fairbarns, Farbarns, Farbarn, Fairbarne, and Farbarne. Other variants include Fernbarns, Furnbarns, and Fernbarn.
The name has also undergone some changes over the centuries. For example, an alternate spelling of the surname Fairbarns is Fairburns, which is believed to be derived from a location such as Fairburn or Fairborne. Fairburns is a common surname in Northern England and Scotland.
In some cases, the surname Fairbarns has turned into surnames like Faulbarns, Forbairns, Foulbairns, Foulborne, Foumbarne, Foulbarne, Fernbarnes, Fairburnes, and Farburnes.
Fairbarns is also a fairly common surname in the United States, particularly in the Midwest and among genealogicals in the South. Variants of this surname also exist in other parts of the world, including Canada, Australia, and England. In some parts of the world, variations of this surname are Furbarns, Farburn, Farbourn, Farborne, and Furbourne.
Overall, Fairbarns is an interesting and uncommon surname with many spellings and surnames of the same origin, demonstrating a wide range of possible ancestries from around the world.
Famous people with the name Fairbarns
- The most famous person with the last name Fairbarns is certainly late British actor, Sir John Gielgud, who was knighted for his services to the theatre in the early 1980s after enjoying a string of successes on both stage and screen.
- Country singer and songwriter Carrie Underwood has also used the stage name "Carrie Fairbarns" for some of her live performances.
- Actress Mary Fairbarns is best know for her roles in television series such as ITV's Coronation Street, BBC's The Bill, and BBC One's Doctors.
- British actor and writer Simon Fairbarns has appeared in the film Flash Gordon and lent his voice to the audio series Doctor Who: Shada.
- Napoleonic War veteran and newscaster Stephen Fairbarns appeared in the Richard Attenborough film, Oh! What a Lovely War.
- Politician and businesswoman Louisa Fairbarns served as Mayor of Northampton from 1998 to 2004.
- British-Canadian sculptor and professor of sculpture, Sylvia Fairbarns, was the first woman to receive the Governor General's Medal for Sculpture in 1997.
- Jazz saxophonist Michael Fairbarns has worked with famous names including Van Morrison, Maria Muldaur, and members of Tower of Power.
- Lawrence Fairbarns, a former All-American college football player, served in the U.S. Air Force during the Second World War, later becoming a technical engineer.
- Opera singer and professor of voice Kirsten Fairbarns is a lecturer at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and is a well-known international performer.