BANTON

Banton is a surname of English origin, predominantly associated with the British Isles. The name is classified as a locational surname, deriving from place names within England and Scotland.

The earliest linguistic analysis associates Banton with Old English elements. One explanation combines bent, meaning bent grass or meadow, with the suffix ‑ton, meaning enclosure or settlement. Hence, the surname originally signified a person who lived near or was connected with a bent‑grass meadow settlement.

Another interpretation, supported by medieval records, derives Banton from the Old English pre‑7th century term bana, meaning slayer, combined with tun, denoting a farm or settlement. Under this scheme, the name would mean “farm of the slayer” or “settlement of the warrior.”

A further source notes that Banton may be a dialectal variant of the surname Bunting. The nickname was given to a person thought to resemble the small bird called a bunting. The bird name itself has an uncertain origin, possibly from the Germanic element bunz, meaning short and thick, or from a term meaning little barrel. Early medieval documents provide examples of this variant pathway, including the name’s appearance in the 1185 Templar records of Hertfordshire as Buntingeford.

Documentary evidence shows that the surname first appears in the late thirteenth century. The first recorded spelling is that of Alice Buntyng in the Hundred Rolls of Suffolk dated 1273, during the reign of King Edward the First, The Hammer of the Scots.

Subsequent records from church registers illustrate the surname’s continued use. For example, Anne Banton was christened at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster, on 1 July 1606; Elizabeth Bantin married John Bartlett at Christ Church, Spitalfields, London, on 31 December 1711; and Sarah Banting married Michael Martindale at Christ Church, Greyfriars, Newgate, London, on 6 July 1732.

Variations of the surname have been documented. The list of recognised variants includes Bunting, Banting, Buntin, Buntine, Bunte, Buntun, Banton, Bantin, Buntain, Bontein, and Bontne. Some of these variations may also have independent locational origins.

The traditional heraldic badge associated with the surname is described as a silver field with a purple chevron between three blue buntings.

Geographically, the name is linked to several places named Banton, notably in Northamptonshire, where the term was also associated with a settlement, and in Warwickshire, where early records refer to a family seat described as Lords of the Manor. In Scotland, the surname appears in the settlements of Banton in the County of Stirling.

In modern times, individuals bearing the surname Banton are found primarily in the United Kingdom, though migration has spread the name to Jamaica, the United States, Canada, Australia, and other Commonwealth countries. Notable contemporary bearers of the surname include Jamaican reggae artists Buju Banton and Pato Banton.

Typical given names associated with the Banton surname

Male

• Andrew
• Anthony
• Christopher
• Daniel
• David
• James
• John
• Michael
• Paul
• Richard

Female

• Alison
• Christine
• Dorothy
• Faith
• Helen
• Jacqueline
• Leanne
• Lisa
• Louise
• Mary
• Michelle
• Sandra
• 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 Banton in...

Braille

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Morse

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Semaphore

Surname type: Location or geographical feature

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Famous people named Banton

• Tom Banton - Cricketer
• Pato Banton - Reggae musician
• Jason Banton - Football player
• Zane Banton - Football player
• Dale Banton - Football player

Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.

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