History of your Surname
Get access to Barnshaw family records.Start a free trial

Barnshaw Family History

Barnshaw Name Meaning

from Goostrey cum Barnshaw (Cheshire) recorded as Gosre et Berneshalgh' in 1430. The place-name is from the Old English given name Beorn or a descendant in the genitive case wth -es + halh ‘nook of land watermeadow’.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


Similar surnames: Earnshaw, Bagshaw, Bashaw, Warshaw, Hanshaw, Harshaw, Ranshaw

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Barnshaw family from?

You can see how Barnshaw families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Barnshaw family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Barnshaw families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1840 there was 1 Barnshaw family living in Pennsylvania. This was about 50% of all the recorded Barnshaw's in USA. Pennsylvania and 1 other state had the highest population of Barnshaw families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Barnshaw surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Barnshaw ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Barnshaw. 34% of Barnshaw men worked as a Laborer. .

View Census Data for Barnshaw | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    34%
  • Farmer
    23%
  • Soldier
    23%
  • Clerk
    23%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Barnshaw family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Barnshaw. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Barnshaw census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Barnshaw

Passenger Lists

There are 393 immigration records available for the last name Barnshaw. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Barnshaw immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 324 military records available for the last name Barnshaw. For the veterans among your Barnshaw ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Barnshaw military records

You've only scratched the surface of Barnshaw family history

Discover More

What is the average Barnshaw lifespan?

Between 1957 and 2002, in the United States, Barnshaw life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1972, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Barnshaw in 1957 was 54, and 71 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Barnshaw

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Barnshaw family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Barnshaw last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial