Sir John Nicholson Barran, 2nd Baronet (16 August 1872 – 8 July 1952) was a British Liberal Party politician.

His eldest son Sir John Leighton Barran (1904–1974) succeeded in the baronetcy.

His youngest son Sir David Barran became a prominent businessman and served as Managing Director and Chairman of Shell.

Barran was elected to the House of Commons at a by-election in March 1909 as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hawick Burghs.

After the war he tried unsuccessfully to return to parliament, standing as Liberal candidate for Kingston upon Hull North West at the general elections of 1922, 1923 and 1924.