Surname Barket - Meaning and Origin
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Barket: What does the surname Barket mean?
The last name Barket is a surname of French origin, originating from the name Barcet or Barcault. This name was originally used for people who lived near a boundary, such as a forest or river. It was also used as an occupational name for someone who worked in the woods, such as a lumberjack or charcoal burner.
The surname Barket has come to mean someone who is strong willed, independent, and determined. This is in part attributed to the fact that, when used as an occupational name, people with this surname often had to stand up for themselves and be resourceful when it came to getting work done. This strong- willed nature has continued to be associated with this surname to this day.
Additionally, the French origin of this surname also implies a sense of sophistication and elegance. French culture is known for its beauty and grace, so having a surname of that origin often indicates that the person has a bit more class and style than the average person.
No matter the region, the last name Barket continues to be associated with strength, independence, and grace. This is evidenced in the way that the name has been used historically and today. Those who carry this surname should take pride in their familial history and the traits associated with it.
Order DNA origin analysisBarket: Where does the name Barket come from?
The last name Barket is most prevalent in France today. According to a surname distribution map, the highest concentrations of this surname are found in the northern French region of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, in locations such as Calais, Valenciennes, and Lille. Interestingly, scattered smaller pockets of this surname can also be found in the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Germany.
Historically, it is believed that the most common French variant of the name is "Berquat," which likely stems from the pre-11th century Olde French word "berque," meaning "bridge." This is an indication that those who used the Barket surname likely held professions related to bridge-building or perhaps as ferrymen who transported goods and travelers over a waterway. Additionally, it is possible that the Barket family name was a sign of an individual’s connection to a particular geographic region, signifying a bridge within a town or property line.
The name Barket is known to have been in use in the United States as early as the 1700s with the arrival of Patrick Barket on a ship heading to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from France. Today in the United States, the surname Barket is uncommon, although a few pockets can be found in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan.
Variations of the surname Barket
The surname Barket has quite a few variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Berket, Barkett, Barkeet, Barkit, Berkett, Berkete, Barcuet, Barcay, Barkeit, Barkayt, Barkyt, Barkite, Barcoet, Barcute, Barkoet and Barkait.
Barket originates from Old French and is a diminutive of the surname Barco which in turn is a metonymic nickname derived from ‘barre,’ meaning ‘pole’ or ‘ruler.’ The usage of this surname denotes someone who was of noble or elevated status, and as it spread through Europe, it developed many regional spellings and variants.
In England, variants of the Barket surname include Barkett, which has been found in Wiltshire and Herefordshire, England since 1086 in a variety of spellings.
Further east, variants like Berket, spelled with an ‘e’ between the ‘r’ and ‘k’, started to appear, and this variant has been found in records in Southern Germany and Austria from the late 17th century.
The spellings Barkeet, Barkite, Barkit, Barcoet, Barcute, and Berkett appear in Scotland, likely brought there by settlers from the north of England, as these spellings have only been found from the 17th century onwards.
Variants Barkayt and Barcay also appear in Scotland and have been found as far east as Poland from the 18th century onwards.
Finally, variants Barkoet, Barkeit, and Barkait were found mainly in the regions around the Mediterranean, including Cyprus, Italy, Tunisia, and Israel, and have been around since the 19th century.
Famous people with the name Barket
- Sam Barket: Professional soccer player for the Tampa Bay Rowdies who has also had multiple appearances in USL-League One and USL-Championship matches.
- Doug Barket: Politician from New York who is currently a member of the Board of Legislators in Herkimer County.
- Rebecca Barket: Actress who has appeared on TV shows such as Jane the Virgin, Fosse/Verdon, and Criminal Minds.
- Stanley Barket: Wolfgang Puck's long-time mentor and former executive chef at Spago, the restaurant where Puck began his career.
- Justin Barket: Author and personal fitness trainer with a focus on strength training and nutrition. He has written many articles on fitness and nutrition, as well as a best-selling book on the subject.
- Roy Barket: Professional basketball player who won four straight All-American titles while playing for Temple University.
- Jay Barket: Professional wrestler who was a popular mid-carder in the 1980s and 1990s, performing with WWE (then called WWF).
- Melissa Barket: Grammy Award-winning songwriter who has written lyrics for such famous artists as Taylor Swift, Rihanna, and Maroon 5.
- Kyle Barket: Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees who pitched in the minor leagues for several years before getting his break in the big leagues.
- Jennifer Barket: Award-winning chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author whose focus is on creating desserts and pastries with natural ingredients.