'barbeiro' originates from Portuguese, ultimately from Latin 'barba' meaning 'beard', combined with the agent-forming suffix '-eiro'.

'barbeiro' developed via Late Latin/Medieval Latin forms such as 'barbarius' and Old French 'barbier', which influenced vernacular Portuguese forms and resulted in modern Portuguese 'barbeiro'.

Initially it referred specifically to someone who tended or cut beards; over time the meaning broadened to a general hair- and beard-cutter (barber).