Surname Barbera - Meaning and Origin
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Barbera: What does the surname Barbera mean?
The last name Barbera is an Italian surname derived from the word "barber," which was a common occupation in Italy. The name refers to a person who was a barber—someone who was skilled in cutting hair and giving shaves. The name can also be related to the Italian word "barberio," meaning "shop of the barber."
During the Middle Ages, barbers were more than just a place to get your hair cut. In fact, they were the go-to people for medical assistance as they were one of the few people who had some knowledge of medicine thanks to their experience with cutting hair. In Poland, the barber was highly respected and often took the place of a doctor or surgeon due to their expertise in caring for wounds.
The surname Barbera has a strong presence in Italy and is the 15th most common surname in the country. The name is most heavily concentrated in the regions of Marche, Piemonte, Lombardia, and Campania. This is likely due to the increased presence of barbers during the Middle Ages in Italy.
Today, the surname Barbera can be found all over the world, although it is most common in countries with Italian heritage. The name is still symbolic of a person who is skilled in the medical profession and is often seen as a sign of respect. The barber is a profession that is still in existence today and is respected for their knowledge and skill.
Order DNA origin analysisBarbera: Where does the name Barbera come from?
The surname Barbera is most often associated with Italy and Spain, with the largest concentrations of the name in the Italian regions of Sicily, Campania, and Emilia-Romagna. The surname is most likely of Italian or Spanish origin, pre-dating the founding of the unified nation of Italy in the late 1800s. In the United States, the name is especially common in the northern part of the country, particularly in New York, New Jersey, California, and Florida.
In Spain, the name is particularly prevalent in Catalonia, which is located in the northeastern region of the country. Conversely, the surname tends to be less common in Spain’s southern regions. Additionally, people with the surname Barbera are known to have emigrated to countries such as the United Kingdom, Mexico, Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
Barbera is a name that is still quite common today, and there are many individuals with the surname who have found success in both personal and professional settings. For example, Giuseppe Barbera is a professional soccer player who has represented Italy at the international level. Additionally, the Cuban singer/songwriter Cucu Diamantes changed her surname from Díaz-Barbera to Diamantes following her marriage to her husband, and has since seen widespread commercial success in her field.
Overall, the last name Barbera is a surname that is still quite popular today, particularly amongst people of Italian and Spanish descent.
Variations of the surname Barbera
The surname Barbera has many variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin. Some of the most common ones are:
Barbaro – This was a popular adoptee surname for those who were not originally from the area. It is also a variation of the same Barbera name.
Barbieri – This is the Italian spelling of the name Barbera.
Barberi – Another Italian spelling of the name.
Barbosa – This Portuguese spelling variation is mainly found in Brazil.
Bárbara – This is the Spanish version of the surname.
Barbaresi – This is a surname of Italian origin found mainly in the North of Italy.
Barbaglia – A derivative of Barbera and a popular surname in some Italian regions.
Berbera – This was an ancient surname created as an evolution of the name “barber”.
Barbato – This is another evolution of the word “barber” and is also found as a surname.
Barbier – The French version of Barbera. It is closely related to the Italian Barberi.
Barberini – A relatively popular variant of the Barbera surname, with its geographical origins being in central Italy.
In conclusion, Barbera is a surname with many variants, spellings, and other names of the same origin. It’s used widely in Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Brazil, as well as some other countries with people of Italian or Latin descent.
Famous people with the name Barbera
- Joseph Barbera: animation artist, film maker, and director; most known for creating the classic cartoons Tom and Jerry.
- Tony Barbera: an American professional wrestler and MMA fighter.
- Vito Barbera: an Italian world class chef from Napoli.
- Robert Barbera: head of The New School's economics department and professor of international macroeconomics.
- Larry Barbera: an American professional ice hockey player who played for the Pittsburg Penguins.
- Frank Barbera: makeup artist and hairstylist to the stars, including Cameron Diaz and Eva Longoria.
- Mauritius Barbera: well-known Italian actor who rose to fame through his roles in theater performances and television shows.
- Adamo Barbera: Italian fencer and Olympic medalist.
- Mick Barbera: Grammy Award-winning American country music singer and songwriter.
- Tony Barbera: an American football running back who played for the Buffalo Bills.
- Virgilio Barbera: Italian prelate of the Catholic Church, who served as the Bishop of Casale Monferrato for 23 years.
- Curt Barbera: French American record producer, mixer, songwriter and engineer.
- Jack Barbera: an operatic baritone active in the 1940s and 1950s.
- Anthony Barbera: British broadcaster and host known for his work on BBC Radio 1.
- Sergio Barbera: an Italian football coach who served as head coach of the Italy U-19 team.