This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Berkeley.' An early variant. Berkeley is a parish and market town in Gloucestershire.

Egidius de Berkeleye, Oxfordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Maurice de Berkelay, Somerset, ibid.

Robert de Berclay, Northumberland, 1105: Hodgson's History of Northumberland.

Gyles de Berclay, Derbyshire, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I.

Seman de Berclawe, Cambridgeshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

William Bercley, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

1704. Married — Henry Barclay and Thomasine Bloome: St. Peter, Cornhill.

Of territorial origin probably from the town of Berkeley in Gloucestershire, England. Several individuals of the name are found in Scotland in the twelfth century. Walter de Berchelai or Berkelai held the high office of Chamberlain of Scotland in 1165, was present in curia regis at Lanark in that year, and witnessed several charters of William the Lion, etc, (APS., I, p. 86, 87, 94; REA., I, p. 10, 14). Humfridus de Berkeley witnessed a charter by Bishop Turpin of the church of Keteryn, c. 1178—98 (REB., II, 257). Robert de Berchelai also appears as a charter witness between 1189 and 1196, and was present in curia regis at Edinburgh (APS., I, p. 88, 94,388). Fourth in descent from Theobald de Berchelai, who came into Scotland in the reign of David I was Alexander de Berkeley, who married the heiress of Mathers and wrote himself "De Berkeley de Mathers" (Angus, II, p. 144). Walter de Berkelay and Robert de Berkelay witnessed William the Lion's grant of burgh and market to the church of Glasgow c. 1175 (REG., p. 37). Dr. Hay Fleming in his introduction to the St. Andrews Kirk Session Register, says: "A witness named Barclay is mentioned four times, and on each occasion his name is spelt in a different way, Barthlhlat, Barclaytht, Bartclaytht, Barclaitht. Judging from the clerk's attempts to take down his name this witness probably lisped" (p. CV). The Barclays possessed considerable estates in various parts of Aberdeenshire and Banffshire, and were hereditary sheriffs of the latter county. They are also found settled in Ayrshire in beginning of the fifteenth century. Barcklay 1716, Barckly 1685, Barclye 1543, Barcula 1499, Barculay 1548, Barkla 1498, Barkley 1702, Bercla 1499, Berclay 1389, Bercley 1317, Bercula 1505, Berkele 1298, Berlalai and Berklai 1510. Other forms of the name occurring in the Laing Charters are: Barclaye, Barcley, Barklay, and Berklaw.

(English) One who came from Berkeley (birch wood), in Gloucestershire, or Berkley, in Somerset; dweller in, or near, a birch wood.

We find a Theobald de Berkeley, probably an offshoot of the English family, settled in Scotland, so early as temp. David I. Fourth in descent from him was Alex, de B., who married the heiress of Mathers, and wrote himself De Berkeley of Mathers. His great grandson Alex, changed the spelling to Barclay in the XV. century. Geneal. Acc. of Barclays of Ury.

Originally Berkely. The name signifies a birchfield, and was assumed from the town of Berkely in Gloucestershire. Roger de Berkely, a Saxon living at the time of the conquest was the grandfather of Theobald de Berkely, who settled in Scotland, and was the ancestor of the Barclays.

(Saxon.) Local. A corruption of Berkeley; a town in Gloucestershire, England, derived from the Saxon beorce, a beech—tree, and leagh or ley, a field, and so called because of the plenty of beech—trees growing there.