Barbour
A spelling of Barber, originally an occupational surname for a barber or hair-cutter.
The #2,504 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 21,365 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Barbour is a northern English and Scottish spelling of Barber. It comes from the occupation itself: a barber, originally someone who shaved beards, trimmed hair, and sometimes carried out minor surgical services. The name ultimately goes back through Anglo-Norman French forms to the Latin word for “beard.”
History
The surname is especially found in northern England and Scotland, where Barbour became a common regional spelling. Historical sources also note Scottish examples where the form appears in medieval and later records, and the best-known literary bearer is John Barbour, the 14th-century Scottish poet of The Bruce. In later centuries the spelling often remained distinct from Barber, though the two are closely related.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
One of the most famous bearers was John Barbour, whose epic poem The Bruce helped make the surname especially recognizable in Scottish history.
From the historical record
“With Inglis men. — Barbour, The Bruce, x. 137-9. God save the lady of this pel. — Chaucer, Hous of Fame, iii. 220.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)