For a proper study and interpretation of a place name it is necessary to know the earliest form of the name and the later changes that it has undergone from time to time. We may first trace the morpho-phonemic changes epigraphs and then proceed to the derivation of the earliest form of the name.The earliest form of the name available in the Durga (Mahalakshmi) temple inscription of Hosala in Barakuru. On palaeographical grounds it is assignable to the 11th century A.D.
This is the earliest form of the name available in records. But in course of time the name Barahakanyapura came to be used in records instead of Barakuru. K. V. Ramesh has argued that Kavi Alupendra shifted his capital from Udyavara to Barakuru after 1144 A.D. Gururaj Bhatt has taken this event of the transfer of the capital to the 11th century A.D. Somewhere during this period, after the acceptance of Barakuru as the capital city by the Alupas this trasformation of the name Barakanuru into Barahakanyapura took place.
Another point that attracts our attension in this connection is the association of the story of Bhutalapandya with the name Barahakanyapura The traditional account has it that Bhutalapandya married 12 Jaina maidens and hence the town took its name accordingly. Though the credibility of the story of Bhutalapandya can not be established it seems that there is some connection between the story of Bhutalapandya and the name of Barahakanyapura.
The name Barahakanyapura which had royal sanction came to be used in royal records. This is evidenced by kote epigraph of 1254 A.D. The first epigraph that mentions the form Barakuru is of Virapandyadevalpendra deva dated 1257 A.D.
While Alupas continued to use in their royal records the old name Barahakanyapura, Hoysalas gave royal sanction to Barakuru, the new form of the old name Barakanuru. Under Vijayanagara administration and Nayakas of Keladi, the same form was retained.
Thus "Barakanuru" the earliest form of the name gave rise to "Barakuru". In between we have Barakanyapura a form probably found only in records and not used by common man which is easier in pronounciation. Hence he adopted Barakuru instead of Barakanuru and recently even this form has been shortened into BARKUR.