Search for content in message boards

Bann or Ban as a middle name

Bann or Ban as a middle name

Posted: 1 Jan 2010 9:52PM GMT
Classification: Query
Does anyone know what the term "Ban" or "Bann" listed in the middle of the name means for Scotsmen. Is there any special meaning to that?

Re: Bann or Ban as a middle name

Posted: 18 Jan 2010 6:27PM GMT
Classification: Query
I understand that "banns" means bans of marriage

Re: Bann or Ban as a middle name

Posted: 2 Nov 2010 9:03AM GMT
Classification: Query
The use of the word 'Ban' in the middle of a Gaelic name, such as James Ban Stewart of Miltown of Borenich tells us that he was fair-haired. With so many James Stewarts living in the same area they were difficult to identify as individuals. Obviously the 'Ban' is not part of the name at baptism.

For the same reason you also find the father's name being used as an extra middle name, as in Donald Robert Stewart of Lochaber.

Hope this help,

Isis at www.borenich.co.uk

Re: Bann or Ban as a middle name

Posted: 3 Nov 2010 12:25AM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you, that does help. It seems unlikely that my extremely dark-haired family would have fair-haired ancestors, but after 5 generations I suppose that it could be so.

Re: Bann or Ban as a middle name

Posted: 17 Aug 2014 9:17PM GMT
Classification: Query
Fair hair is a pure recessive trait, so your ancestor might have fair-haired, but not be reflected for many generations. My family traces back to two cousins of the same name, so one was David the Fair, and one David the Dark. Our family stll has the fair and dark-haired elements.

Re: Bann or Ban as a middle name

Posted: 17 Aug 2014 10:54PM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you for the reply. Since my original post, I have found Ban and Bui as part of several of my Grant ancestors names and have learned that it meant fair-haired or fair (I guess meaning complexion). While my recent Grant ancestors had/have fair complexions, we are mostly dark haired. As a younger woman, my hair was nearly black. Now, as usually happens at an age over 60, my hair is turning gray. :) I am the fifth generation since "Ban" was in our family name. There have been many opportunities to inherit dark hair from the spouses gene. Oh, and my Dad (the spouse) had black hair.

Thanks again for taking time to post your message.
Barb.
per page

Find a board about a specific topic