Barrington

Meaning & origin

Barrington is an English surname-turned-first-name that originated as a place name from Old English elements. It has never been common, with its peak rank of 7,194th in 1991, when it was given to about 1 in 155,280 newborns. Since the 1990s, its usage has been declining, consistent with the broader trend away from formal surname-style names for boys. First recorded in 1928, Barrington has a distinguished, aristocratic feel reminiscent of British peerage titles. It has never been widely popular, remaining a rare choice that has slowly fallen from its modest peak in the late 20th century.

Barrington is primarily an English surname transferred to given name use. The surname derives from various places named Barrington in England, such as those in Cambridgeshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. These place names likely come from the Old English personal name Beorn plus -ing (meaning 'people of') and tūn (enclosure, settlement), thus 'settlement of Beorn's people.' It has been used as a first name since the early 20th century, likely influenced by the British aristocratic Barrington family.