The name ‘Barr’ originates from Scotland, and Northern Ireland. It is a habitational name from any of the many places in South West Scotland that get their names from the Gaelic word ‘Barr’ meaning height, hill, or from a Briton cognate. In English it is a topographic name for someone who lived by a gateway or barrier, from the Middle English, Old Flemish word ‘barre’ meaning bar, obstruction (of obscure origin, possibly akin to the Celtic element ‘barr’ meaning height). Compiled information from Historical and Private archive’s has confirmed that the surname ‘Barr’ and or it’s variant’s, dates as far back as the reign of Edward I, where a ‘Maurice de la Barre’, from the county of Devonshire, England, is recorded. The exact period of settlement in North America has not been definitely determined but Information extracted from Public and Civil registry archive’s confirm that one of the first settlers was a certain ‘James Barr’, aged 32, a water gilder by trade, from the city of London, England. He immigrated to North America in 1775, sailing from the Port of London aboard the ship named the ‘Maryland Planter’ …
Coat of arms: Azure, an eagle display…