This surname is derived from an occupation. 'the barker,' one who stripped trees of bark for the tanner. Then a preparer of bark for tanning. 'Escorceur, a barker of trees' (Cotg). In the conversation between Edward IV and the tanner of Tamworth (Percy) it is said:

'What craftsman art thou?' said the king.

Robert Barcarius, LIncolnshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Alan le Barkere, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

Osbert le Barker, 1306. Writs of Parliament.

William de York, harker, 13-9: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Edrannd Barkmaker, temp. Elizabeth: Calendar of Pleadings, temp. Elizabeth I.

John Barkman.: Deposition of Ecclesiastical Proceedings (Surtees Society).

From the trade or occupation of 'barker,' an obsolete name for the bark-stripper or rather for the man who prepared the bark for the tanner. Later the word was synonymous with 'tanner.' Patrick Bercar and his son held land in Dunipace c. 1200 (Cambus., p. 108). Alisaundre le Barker, provost of the burgh of Haddington, rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 197). Richard le Barker of Tyningham, tenant of the bishop of St. Andrews in the county of Edneburk also rendered homage in the same year. His seal bears a cross chequy cantoned with four Hons rampant, and S' Richart le Barkier (ibid., p. 205,555). Thomas Barkar in the parish of Fyvy was excommunicated in 1382 (REA., I, p. 165), William Barcar held a land in Edinburgh in 1400 (Egidii, p. 37), and Alexander Barcare was vicar of the parish of Pettinain in 1486 (OPS., I, p. 138). Bercar in 1526, Bercare 1515, Berker.

(Anglo-Scand.) Bark Stripper, Pre­parer, or Dealer; Tanner. [Middle English barker(e; M.E, barke, Old Norse börk-r, bark + the agent, suff. -er (e] Osbert le Barker,— Writs of Parl.

Cowe-hides! Cowe-hides! What things are those? I marvell what they bee.

What, art thou a foole? the tanner reply’d, I carry one under mee.

What craftsman art thou, said the king; I praye thee tell me trowe.

I am a barker, sir, by my trade; No we tell me, what art thou? —'King Edw. IV. and the Tanner of Tamworth:' Percy's Reliques.

(1) “Shepherd” in Old French (Berchier). Also (2) “Tanner” in Old English.

(English) One who prepared leather with bark, a tanner.

A tanner, from his using bark of trees in his trade. In the old ballad of the King and the Tanner in Percy's Reliques, the latter calls himself "a barlter, Sir, by my trade." English Sum. Barcarius and Le Barkere. H.R.

A tanner.

"What craftsman art thou, said the king,

I pray thee tell me trowe?

I am a Barker, sir, by my trade,

Now tell me, what art thou?"

Percy's reliques.

(H.R. Barcarius and Le Barkere). From the old berkere, a tanner, bark being used in tanning. The word barker now signifies one who strips trees of their bark. Barkary was a law term for a tan-house.

Radulphus Bercarius of Normandy, 1180 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae). Le Bercher occurs soon after in England. The Baronets Barker were of this family.

(English), Tanner. Barkham, Birch home. (variant: Berkeley.)

From the Old Norse, Börkr; from the Swedish, Barck; from the Dutch, Barger; from the Flemish, Barker; from the German, Barche; in the Domesday Book, Barch; a personal name.

Barker: the man who barks for the tanner; Barkis is “at the Bark-house.”

Barker. —The old name for a tanner. It is confined to the northern half of England and to the eastern counties north of the Thames. It is very frequent in Yorkshire, and is also well represented in the counties of Derby, Lincoln, and Norfolk. Tanner, its substitute in the south of England, has its home in Wilts, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Hants.