Barr — Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: not applicable; Scots-Ulster origin
Meaning: uncertain, possibly topographic, meaning 'height' or 'crest'
Traditional stronghold: Antrim, Derry
Pronunciation: BAR
History of the Barr name
In Ulster, Barr is generally of Scottish or Ulster-Scots planter origin, likely a topographic term for a hilltop or ridge, and became established across Antrim, Derry and Down following the 17th-century settlements. It is less commonly found elsewhere in Ireland. Distinct from Barry, an Anglo-Norman name of Cork origin, though occasionally confused with it, Barr has remained a specifically northern surname carried by both Protestant and Catholic families in Ulster.
Variants: Barre · Baar
Famous bearers of the name
- Glenn Barr — Northern Irish loyalist politician later involved in cross-community peace initiatives
Related names from the same part of Ireland: O'Connor · Quinn · Doherty · McDonnell · McLoughlin · Kane · Cunningham · McGee