Surname Byng - Meaning and Origin

Byng: What does the surname Byng mean?

The surname Byng is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English pre-7th Century "benc", which means bench. It was initially used as a topographic name for someone who lived near a raised piece of land or a bank. Alternatively, it may have been used as a professional name for a judge who would have sat on a bench. The surname has evolved in different forms over the centuries, including Bing, Binge, and Binch. The name, like many surnames of Anglo-Saxon origin, began to spread to various parts of the British Isles after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The most prominent family with this name is perhaps the noble Byng family from Britain, who have held the titles of Viscount Torrington, Earl of Strafford, and Baron Byng of Vimy. Famous bearers of the surname include British military figures and politicians, such as Julian Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy, and Admiral Sir George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington.

Byng: Where does the name Byng come from?

The surname Byng has its origin in England. More specifically, it is often associated with the town of Bingham, in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands. The surname dates back to before the 7th century and is derived from the Old English word "bing" that means a hollow, hence the meaning "dweller in the hollow."

Over the centuries, several significant people bore this surname, perhaps the most famous being the Admiral John Byng, who was controversially court-martialed and executed for failing to "do his utmost" during the Battle of Minorca in the 18th century.

The surname isn't common today, and while it can be found in England, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to the British Empire's expansion, including countries like Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand among others. The name is carried by a few thousand individuals worldwide today. Notable families include the Viscounts Torrington of Byng family, which have their roots linked back to England.

Variations of the surname Byng

The surname Byng, of British origin, has gone through various changes in spellings and forms over the centuries. It is believed to have evolved from the Norse-Viking word "byg", which means a farm or settlement. Some variations include Bing, Binge, Beng, and Bynge.

Since the surname Byng often depended on how it sounded phonically to the recorder (clerk or priest), it was sometimes spelled differently in official documents. This was particularly the case in the Middle Ages when standardization of spelling was not yet a common practice.

It’s also common to find that surnames were altered as families migrated from place to place. Therefore, over time and distance, variations such as Bing, Byngham and Byngley appeared.

Bynge is a notably less common version of Byng and could be likely due to changes in regional accents and dialects. The addition of prefixes and suffixes is also a common alteration. Examples could be suggestions like Byng-Smith or O’Byng which indicate a marital linkage or an Irish ancestry respectively. However, the primary, accepted variant of the surname remains Byng.

Sources confirm that the surname specifically can be linked back to a town in Norfolk, England called Binham, offering another possible spelling variation.

Famous people with the name Byng

• Julian Hedworth George Byng: An English general and the 12th Governor General of Canada.
• George Byng: A British admiral and politician of the early 18th century.
• John Byng: A British Admiral who was court-martialed and executed.
• Patience Byng: Countess of Torrington, British aristocrat and wife of George Byng.
• Lucius Byng: Baron Byng of Vimy, a soldier, statesman, and governor general of Canada.
• Dougie Byng: A British singer-songwriter and stage performer.
• Anthony Byng: A British politician who served in the English House of Commons.
• Viscount Byng: A title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom also known as Field Marshal Julian Hedworth George Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy.
• Edmund Byng: English cricketer.
• Kenneth Byng: British Army officer who played first-class cricket for Derbyshire.
• George Byng: A political activist and the Member of Parliament for Middlesex in the late 18th century.
• Arthur Byng: A Canadian Anglican bishop in the first half of the 20th century.
• Jamie Byng: A British publisher.
• George Byng, 4th Viscount Torrington: British military officer and colonial administrator.
• George Byng, 2nd Earl of Strafford: British peer and politician.

Other surnames

BynamByngeBynum