'barbadian' originates from the English country name 'Barbados', which itself came into English from Portuguese 'Barbados' (from 'Ilha dos Barbados'), where 'barbados' meant 'bearded ones' (likely referring to the bearded fig trees on the island).

'Barbados' comes from Portuguese 'Ilha dos Barbados' ('island of the bearded ones'); the English place-name 'Barbados' was later adapted to form the adjectival/demonym 'Barbadian'.

Initially the root referred to 'the bearded ones' (a descriptive name for the island); over time the term became the place name 'Barbados' and then the adjective/demonym meaning 'from or relating to Barbados'.