View Message

European surnames beginning with Barb- usually refer to beards, barbers, or the female given name Barbara. With German surnames I don't think the first two possibilities really work. That would leave us with Barbara, and a surname deriving from a female ancestor.
There's also the German word barbarisch, meaning "barbaric".
I have to say that I don't feel comfortable with any of the above, but I can't come up with anything better.