owls

[petebez]

What were Barn Owls called before any barns were built

[RATTER15]

Owls.

I imagine that barns were around before many species were given names, I may be wrong, but barns of varying descriptions have been around for many many years

[Quizmonster]

Possibly the white owl. The earliest recorded use of the name 'barn owl' is in Ray's English Birds, published in 1674. Here's a quote from there, "...the common barn owl or white owl..."
Both words, 'barn' and 'owl' are at least 1000 years old in English with the latter the older of the two. I'd guess that people noticed the whiteness before the barn-ness!

[DottyH]

bit like a carthorse then, or even a sheepdog, or a Polar Bear come to that, cos it wasn't the North Pole til a few centuries ago was it?

[Bellringer]

Probably the old name for them. "Screech Owls"

[petebez]

Thanks guys, all good answers, I think Quizmonster`s is the most informative. I`ve also heard them called Rock Owl`s, as they nested in rock faces, cliff faces, before barns were built. Thanks again guys now I can win that pub quiz.

[welshtiger]

"waiting for a building to be built owl"!
sorry

[lankeela]

homeless.