What does Barclay mean?

Barclay as a boys' name is pronounced BAR-klay. It is of Scottish and Old English origin, and the meaning of Barclay is "birch tree meadow". Place name for Berkeley in Gloucestershire, and transferred use of the the Scottish surname, which was taken to Scotland in the 12th century by Walter de Berchelai, who became chamberlain of Scotland in 1165. His descendants became one of the most powerful families in Scotland. This form is most popular in Scotland; Berkeley is more common elsewhere. Barclays is the name of one of the biggest banks in Britain. Basketball player Charles Barkley.

STARTS/ENDS WITH Bar-, -ay

ASSOCIATED WITH scottish, old english, tree, meadow, surname, powerful, popular (famous), britain (england)

Variations

VARIANTS Bar, Barcley, Barklay, Barkley, Barklie, Barrclay, Bartley, Berk, Berkeley, Berkie, Berkley, Berklie, Berky

SEE ALSO Barker

RELATION VIA BARKLEY, BERKELEY Birkley

How popular is Barclay?

Barclay is an unusual given name for men but a very prominent surname for both adults and children (#2965 out of 150436, Top 2%). (2000 U.S. DEMOGRAPHICS)

Similar Names

Suggested similar-sounding names are Bailby (see Balbo), Bailey▼, Baily, Bala, Baley, Barak, Baram, Barbar, Barlow, Barna, Barnaby, Barney▼, Barnham (see Barnum), Barny, Barra, Barrak, Barrat, Barrey, Barrlow (see Barlow), Barry▼, Bartalan, Bartle, Bartlet, Bartram, Baxley, Baxly, Bayley, Bayly, Birley, Birly, Bray, Briley, Brily (see Briley), Bryley (see Briley), Bryly (see Briley), Burley, Byrley, Fairlay, Farlay, Jaray, Laray and Maccray. These names tend to be more commonly used than Barclay.