The surname "Barnett" is of English origin and is derived from the medieval given name "Barnard," which itself originated from the Germanic elements "bern" meaning "bear" and "hard" meaning "strong" or "brave." The name "Barnett" would have originally been a patronymic surname, indicating that the person was the son of someone named Barnard. The surname "Barnett" first appeared in written records in England during the Middle Ages. Over time, the name spread throughout the British Isles and eventually made its way to other English-speaking countries through immigration. Today there are more than 95,000 people with the last name Barnett living in the United States.