BANCE
Bance is a surname of French origin that has found a lasting presence within the British Isles, particularly in England. The name is traditionally associated with Christian families and has been carried by individuals who often adhered to the English language traditions.
The earliest recorded derivation of the surname comes from the Old French word bance, meaning “bench” or “stool”. Historically it is thought to have been a nickname for a person who worked as a carpenter or a furniture maker, or for someone who lived near a bench or had a physical characteristic that reminded observers of a bench. This occupational or locational origin is mirrored in several other surnames of similar construction in France and England.
Another significant line of derivation connects Bance to the medieval given name Benedictus, Latin for “Blessed”. The name Benedict was widespread in Europe during the Middle Ages, largely thanks to the prominence of St. Benedict of Monte Cassino and the Benedictine monastic order he founded. From this personal name a variety of patronymic surnames sprang, including Benn, Benns, Bents, Bence, Bense, Bance, Bants and Bince. Bance was reintroduced to England by French Huguenot refugees in the late seventeenth century. Early London records show the name appearing as Cycilie Bence in 1576, Elizabeth Benns in 1579, Edmund Bents in 1598, Anne Bants in 1634, and John Banse in 1663. A notable civil marriage recorded at St. Bride’s in Fleet Street, on 26 October 1623, involved William Bance and Christian Fullforde. The very earliest documented spelling of a related name is Osmund Benz, dated 1086 in The Domesday Book for Derbyshire, during the reign of King William the Conqueror.
The dispersal of the surname beyond England can be largely attributed to migration patterns over the centuries. Although the name remains uncommon, it can now be found in a variety of countries, reflecting the movement of families from the British Isles to the Americas, Australasia and continental Europe. The resilience of the surname in both historical records and contemporary genealogical sources attests to its continued relevance to those whose ancestry can be traced back to the medieval period.
Typical given names associated with the Bance surname
Male
- Andrew
- Darren
- David
- John
- Jonathan
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Thomas
Female
- Antonia
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Jacqueline
- June
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Michelle
- Natasha
- Nicola
- Orla
- Sarah
- Sharon
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Bance in...
Braille
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Morse
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There are approximately 714 people named Bance in the UK. That makes it roughly the 9,561st most common surname in Britain. Around 11 in a million people in Britain are named Bance.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
