Surname Bannerman - Meaning and Origin
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Bannerman: What does the surname Bannerman mean?
The last name Bannerman is derived from a medieval Scottish name meaning “flag bearer” or “banner bearer”. The surname originally referred to a person who displayed a noble family’s banner on the battlefield or in a procession. Later, the name was also used for a flag or standard bearer in a military unit.
The surname Bannerman is especially associated with Scotland's Clan Campbell family, as it was often adopted as an additional surname to distinguish members of the extended family. Another frequent bearer of the surname was the Bannerman family of Aberdeen, who owned a herring curing business.
The surname Bannerman first began to appear in Scottish records in the late 13th century, making it one of the oldest surnames of Scottish origin. Today, the surname is most common in the United Kingdom, particularly in Scotland, and Ireland.
The use of family banners and flags has been a source of great pride in Scotland for centuries. Bearing the surname Bannerman is a proud reminder of Scotland’s proud military and family history. As such, the surname remains in common use today and is a reminder of Scotland’s proud history and culture.
Order DNA origin analysisBannerman: Where does the name Bannerman come from?
The last name Bannerman is common today in several parts of the world, including Scotland, the United States, Canada, England, Australia, and New Zealand. It is thought to have been derived from a place name with the Anglo-Saxon 'banr' meaning banner, and the Anglo-Saxon 'mann' meaning man.
There is evidence of this surname appearing in Scotland for centuries, with the earliest recorded use of the name being in Perthshire as early as 1339. This suggests the name may be of both Early Medieval British and Norman origins.
In the United States, Bannerman is the 193rd most common surname, with over 56,000 people bearing the name. The highest numbers of Bannerman living in the United States can be found in California, though the name is fairly evenly scattered across the country.
In Canada, the surname is the 603rd most common last name with over 2,000 living people bearing it. The highest concentration is in British Columbia, though there are individuals living with the name in the rest of the provinces as well.
The Bannerman surname is also quite common in England, Australia, and New Zealand. It can be found in many records dating back centuries, with the surname occurring in a variety of spellings throughout its history.
Today the name Bannerman is still quite common, with thousands of individuals living in the countries mentioned, most likely descended from a shared ancestor centuries ago.
Variations of the surname Bannerman
The surname Bannerman (also spelt Bannermann) is derived from the Scottish Gaelic bannrach, meaning ‘standard-bearer’ or ‘leader’. It is generally accepted that the name is a corruption of the Norman name le Bannier. The patronymic surname in Scotland is Bannarman or Bannarmann.
Variations of Bannerman include: Bannerman, Bannermann, Bannarman, Banarman, Banerman, Bannermen, Banman, Banmann, Bantnerman, Ballman, Bannarmann, Bainerman and Bammerman.
The Bannerman family name is most commonly associated with Scotland although a few Bannermans can be found on the English border. However, many Bannermans have since emigrated to other countries, particularly to the United States, where the name can be found with some frequency.
Bannerman is also the name of a castle on the Isle of Skye, which was built and occupied by a branch of the Clan Bannerman.
In Scotland, other spellings include Banarman, Banerman, Banmerman, Bannarman and Banmermann. The name has also been anglicised to Bonham, Bainham and Benham. Some Bannermans have adopted alternative spellings, such as Boanerges or Baynerges, while others have chosen to take on the French spelling of Banniere.
Finally, other Bannermans have changed the spelling of their surname to popular names of the time. In Scotland, this includes MacBannatyne, McBannerman and Bainerman.
Famous people with the name Bannerman
- Susan Bannerman: a New Zealand broadcaster
- Don Bannerman: a Canadian hockey player
- Neille Bannerman: an Australian writer
- Laura Bannerman: an American actress
- Frank Bannerman: an American politician
- Sarah Bannerman: a British professional squash player
- Christine Bannerman: a Canadian volleyball player
- Paul Bannerman: an English sound engineer
- Charles Bannerman: an Australian cricketer
- Gregory Bannerman: an American football player
- John Bannerman: a Scottish rugby player
- Ichabod Bannerman: an American lawyer
- Else Bannerman: a Danish badminton player
- Louisa Bannerman: an Australian writer
- Ellery Bannerman: an American painter
- Derek Bannerman: a British film director
- George Bannerman: a Canadian lawyer
- Rory Bannerman: a Scottish film producer
- Maria Bannerman: an English model
- Bill Bannerman: an American radio DJ and producer