These families with a few exceptions lived and worked in Durham and  Northumberland in the North East of England. This particular Barrass family  line resided in County Durham from the late 1500's. Some of them moved from  Durham to Northumberland (mostly Earsdon and Benton). I still live near this  area. This was due to the industrial growth of Newcastle and the River Tyne as  well as  the opening of more coal mines in Northumberland. The MOY Family who  married into the Barras(s) line came from Norfolk to work in the coal mines.  Some emigrated to Australia and Canada.
  Families may spell their name with one or two s' at the end. There does not  seem to be any particular reason for this.  Their occupations range from  Landed Gentry, Brewers, Shipowners and Mariners, farmers and butchers and  miners. 
 The Barras name can be seen in a variety of documents held by the Durham  County records office. Most of them deal with land transactions and some are a  part of a collection of title deed and papers dated 1637-1912. Thses relate to  freehold properties of the Williamson Family of Whickham. Many of the  transactions were with prominent families of the North East of England such  as  Clavering, Fenwick, Williamson, Liddell, Hendry and Hopper. I have been fascinated by the range of men and women who made up this family  and who married into important families of their day. 
 I hope that if you are looking at this tree that you can help add many more to  the list.
 The sources for this information includes: Whickham, Longbenton and Earsdon  Parish Registers, 1841-1901 Census, Wills, IGI, birth marriage and Death  Certificates.
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