Surname Bunton - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Bunton: What does the surname Bunton mean?
The surname Bunton is of English origin; it derives from a medieval personal name, Bunta. Its formation involves the old English pre 7th century personal name 'Buna' with the Middle English patronymic suffix '-ton'. Hence, it is an example of a patronymic surname, denoting kinship or descent from a personal name or nickname of the father or another male ancestor. The name 'Buna' was widely used as a nickname, literally meaning 'bump' or 'swelling'. This concept can extend figuratively to 'friend', 'benefactor', or 'protector'. The '-ton' suffix indicates 'son of'. Therefore, the literal meaning of Bunton is 'son of Buna'. Commencing in the 14th century, it was commonly used in the Counties of Yorkshire and Norfolk. Like many surnames of Anglo-Saxon origin, Bunton can also be found in other English-speaking countries due to migration. Notable people with the surname include Emma Bunton, a member of the British pop group Spice Girls.
Order DNA origin analysisBunton: Where does the name Bunton come from?
The surname Bunton is of Anglo-Saxon origin and may have evolved from a nickname for a person who made or sold bread or buns, deriving from the Old English word "bun," which means "cake." It may also be a locational surname originating from Bainton, a village in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The place name derives from an Old English name “Bana,” meaning slayer, combined with Old English “tun,” meaning settlement or enclosure. Thus, it may refer to people from a settlement connected to Bana.
Bunton is not a common surname; however, it is still found in significant numbers in English-speaking countries like the United States, England, Australia, and Canada. In the United States, Bunton is most prevalent in Texas, followed by North Carolina, Ohio, and California. Within the United Kingdom, Bunton is most common in Hertfordshire and London. Nonetheless, the surname remains a rather infrequent name globally, and its distribution may still be linked to the patterns of British migration across the globe over the centuries. Emma Bunton, a British singer and songwriter, is a notable bearer of this surname.
Variations of the surname Bunton
The surname Bunton can have several variants and related surnames due to differing regional pronunciations, spellings, and even misspellings over time. Some people with the Bunton surname may have ancestors who originally had a different version of the name.
Variations of the surname Bunton might include Banton, Bunten, Buntin, Buntain, Bunting, Buntonen, and even Buntenn. The surname can also be spelled as Bunnton or Bunnton, each with double "n". Variant spellings often occur due to transcription errors in historical documents, especially given that historically, spelling was not strictly standardized.
These surnames have similar origins and often refer to a sign or banner carrier. They are primarily of English, Scottish and Irish origin, derived from the Old English "bune," meaning "reed" or "stem of a plant," and "tun" which is a settlement or farm. In Scottish and Irish variations, it's derived from the Gaelic 'bun tain' meaning 'bottom of the river.'
The distribution of these variations can primarily be found in the British Isles, Australia, and North America, due to historical migration patterns. For example, Banton is more common in Scotland, while Bunten and Buntin can be found more frequently in England and America.
Famous people with the name Bunton
- Emma Bunton: An English singer, songwriter, and actor, most famous for being a member of the globally successful girl group the Spice Girls, where she was known as 'Baby Spice'.
- Paul Bunton: A renowned architect known for designing school campuses across California and the United States. CEO and president of his own company called 'Bunton Clifford Associates Inc'.
- Jade Jones: This might be a bit of a stretch as his surname isn't Bunton, but he is related to an individual with the Bunton surname. Jade is a singer and the long-term partner of Emma Bunton. Together they have two children.
- Derek Bunton: A well-known pathologist in Scotland. He served as the President of the Royal College of Pathologists.
- Alf Bunton: An English professional footballer who played as a winger in the Football League for Darlington in the 1930s.
- Gary Bunton: An Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the 1980s and '90s.
- Trevor Bunton: A former Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood in the Victorian Football League.