Why are barn owls called barn owls?

How did Barn Owls get their name? Why are barn owls called barn owls?  

Barn owls (Tyto alba) got their name from their natural habitat preferences. These owls are known to frequently inhabit barns, as well as other man-made structures such as old buildings, church steeples, and even abandoned houses. The name "barn owl" was derived from their close association with barns.

The word "barn" refers to a large agricultural building typically used for storing hay, grain, or housing livestock. Barns became a key location for the Tyto Alba species given the overwhelming proximity to open spaces like farms and ranches. These types of open spaces are prime hunting ground for barn owls’ to find prey. Barns are often not sealed and have barn owl size openings from either intentional doors and ventilation, or unintentional openings from splits, weathering or ill fitted wood walls. Since barns provide a suitable environment for barn owls to nest and roost, they became commonly associated with these structures. The word "owl" is a general term used to describe nocturnal birds of prey with distinct features like a flat face, large eyes, and a sharp beak.

The combination of their frequent presence in barns and their owl classification led to the name "barn owl" as a specific identification for this particular species of owl.