Il Barbiere: Then and Now

The word "barber" comes from the Latin word "barba" meaning beard, but in ancient times barbers were not just trimming beards.

The first barber shops also known as "tonsores" opened in Rome around 300 BC and in between haircuts and shavings, barbers were known to practice teeth extractions, abscess incisions and cauterize wounds. Until at least the 1700s, doctors were always considered intellectuals not adept to manual work which is why barbers would traditionally perform the work, i.e. bloodlettings, extractions, etc. And that’s where the traditional barber pole comes from; the barbers who practiced bloodlettings would let people know by showing the barber pole outside their shops. The colors red for arteries, blue for veins and white for the long bandages that were used to bind the wounds after surgery.

In old times, wearing a beard was a symbol of power and authority. If your last name is Barbieri, Barbero or La Barbera, it was derived from "barba" and the last name could allude to which kind of beard your ancestor had. For example: Barbalonga would mean long beard and Barbarossa would mean red beard. The last name may also refer to a nickname using your "zio" or uncles name. For example: Barbagianni for your Uncle Gianni and Barbapiero for your Uncle Piero. It could simply mean that your ancestors did the work of a barber.

Luckily, barbers don't practice dentistry anymore, so it’s safe to say the only thing you’ll get when you’re there is a haircut.