Baney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Baney

What does the name Baney mean?

Baney is an ancient Pictish-Scottish name. It is derived from the Gaelic word Beathan or betha which means life. Bean was also the name of a saint in the Breviary of Aberdeen.

Early Origins of the Baney family

The surname Baney was first found in Aberdeen (part of the modern Grampian region), where one of the first times the name arose was a Bean who was a magistrate circa 1210. It is known, however, that the MacBains moved to Invernessshire, as sod bearers to the Chiefs of the great Clan Chattan (a powerful confederation of early Clans). The name literally means "son of the fair lad," and was frequently translated to MacBean (Bain.)

Saint Bean or Beyn (fl. 1011), was, according to Fordun, appointed first bishop of Murthlach by Malclom II, at the instance of Pope Benedict VIII. A fragment of the charter of Malcolm II (1003-1029?), preserved in the register of the diocese of Aberdeen confirms this claim. 1 However, St. Bean is distinctly referred to as a native of Ireland: 'In Hybernia natalis Beani primi episcopi Aberdonensis et confessoris'. 1

Early History of the Baney family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Baney research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1411, 1550 and 1745 are included under the topic Early Baney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Baney Spelling Variations

Translation has done much to alter the appearance of many Scottish names. It was a haphazard process that lacked a basic system of rules. Spelling variations were a common result of this process. Baney has appeared Bean, Beane, Beyn, Bayn, Bene, Bane, Baine, Beine, Bayne, Beyne, Been, Beaine, MacBain, MacBean, MacVain, MacBean, MacVan and many more.

Early Notables of the Baney family

More information is included under the topic Early Baney Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Baney Ranking

In the United States, the name Baney is the 12,689^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Baney family to Ireland

Some of the Baney family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Baney migration to the United States +

Many Scots left their country to travel to the North American colonies in search of the freedom they could not find at home. Of those who survived the difficult voyage, many found the freedom they so desired. There they could choose their own beliefs and allegiances. Some became United Empire Loyalists and others fought in the American War of Independence. The Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up in the last century have allowed many of these disparate Scots to recover their collective national identity. A search of immigration and passenger ship lists revealed many early settlers bearing the Baney name:

Baney Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Anthony Baney, who landed in Maryland in 1815 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Baney (post 1700) +

Michelle Baney, American actress, known for The Scorpion King (2002) and The Outside (2009)
Vernon Baney, American actor, known for Highspeed Flamingo (2013)
Karen Baney, American actress, known for The Other Side of the Lake (2016)
Doug Baney, American developer at Agilent Laboratories, Palo Alto who led the team who developed the laser-based mouse in 2004
Ralph "Zack" Baney Jr., (b. 1973), American record producer, songwriter, screenwriter, filmmaker and photographer
Richard Lee Baney (b. 1946), American former Major League Baseball pitcher

The Baney Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Touch not the catt bot a targe
Motto Translation: Touch not the cat without a shield.

Citations +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)