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I first came across the Barkas name in Charles Dickens “Barkis is willin’” in David Copperfield and was intrigued to find it in my family. I know some of my Barkas ancestors had connections with London and were active in the book and literary trades as well as sharing an interest in spiritualism. Was a Barkas an ancestor of mine, known to Charles Dickens? - I don’t know, but its a nice thought.
Barkas is a name locally common to the northeast, particularly Durham and Northumberland. It is supposed to originate from “Bark House”. A bark house was where bark for the tanning process is stored. Tanning was a large industry in Newcastle in the 18th century so it seemed plausible. However, further research leads me to believe that the name is actually continental in origin and came to England from Germany or the Slovak countries.
I have a huge database of information on the Barkas family, particularly those in and around Newcastle upon Tyne. If you have Barkas ancestors please get in touch.
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