Origins of the Surname: Barnhill
This is believed to be a surname of Scottish origins,
but it may also for a few nameholders at least, be English.
It is definately locational and may originate from the
village of Barnhill in Tayside, or for most nameholders,
Barnhill in Lanarkshire, formerly a village but now a part
of the city of Glasgow.
However there is also a village so
named in the county of Cheshire in England, and it is
possible that the recordings found in English registers,
may originate from this village. The village name and hence
the later surname, whether English or Scottish, derives from
the Olde English pre 7th century word or personal name "beorn"
meaning bright, plus "hyll," a hill. So the meaning of the
surname may be Beorn's hill or the bright hill, either being possible.
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