Barbers traditionally advertised their profession with a pole. This one belonged to Carl Schultz, father of the famous cartoonist.
This is a list of barbers and barber surgeons.
- Ambroise Paré — a pioneering surgeon of 16th century France when barbers also performed surgery.
- Hugo E. Vogel — Wisconsin assemblyman and barber for more than fifty years
- Johanna Hedén — a midwife who became the first female barber surgeon in Sweden
- Johnny Niggeling — a baseball player who barbered when not playing ball
- Joseph Rainey — barber who became the first black US congressman
- Manuel Lopes — the first black resident of Seattle who set up in business with the first barber's chair to be brought round Cape Horn.
- Peter Proby — the barber of Sir Francis Walsingham who became Master of the Worshipful Company of Barbers and Lord Mayor of London
- Richard Milburn — known as Whistling Dick, he composed the famous tune "Listen to the Mocking Bird".
- William Johnson — the barber of Natchez who kept an extensive diary
- William L. Smith — Milwaukee barber who served as a Wisconsin assemblyman
Fictional barbers
- Sweeney Todd
- The Barber of Seville
- Theodoric of York — a recurring character on Saturday Night Live, played by Steve Martin