The Barnard One-Name Study is researching the Barnard name with its variants of Barnerd, Barnhard, Barnhardt, Bernard, Bernhard, Bernhardt and Burnard.

The etymological origins of this surname are German: “Bern” meaning bear and “hard” meaning strong. This places it in the “characteristic” category of surnames, evocking that the name’s bearer is as strong as a bear. The name was picked up by the Normans and brought to England after the conquest of 1066. England remains the location of the highest concentration of Barnards and its variations.