Byne History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Etymology of Byne

What does the name Byne mean?

The chronicles of the Byne family suggest that their ancestors may have been Viking settlers. Their surname comes from a place name of Norse origins, from when they lived at Bennie, near the village of Braco in the parish of Logi-Almond in Perthshire. 1

One noted author claims the family was originally Norman from "Beaunay, the fief so named in Normandy. John de Beaunay is mentioned by Orderic at the battle of Mortemer in 1055; and in 1080 Bernard de Beaunay, with Robert Malet and other Norman lords, witnessed a deed of William de Ros, third Abbot of Fecamp." 2

Early Origins of the Byne family

The surname Byne was first found in Cumberland and Westmorland. The move of many of the family from northern England to Scotland is not documented. But we do know that "Hugh de Benne or Bennef witnessed charters by Gilchrist, earl of Angus, c. 1201-7. Hugh filius Hugonis de Benne witnessed a charter by Vmfridus de Berkelay to the Abbey of Arnbroath c. 1204-11, and as de Benne or Bennef attested a charter by William filius Bernardi." 1

Back in northern England, Yorkshire is of particular note. There we find Ralph Benny in the Subsidy Rolls of 1301 3 and later Johannes Benny was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 4

Jordan de Belnai, in 1165, held two fees of Earl Walter Giffard, in Buckinghamshire 5 and Hugh de Belne, according to the Testa de Nevill, held Belne, in Worcestershire, of the Baron of Dudley. 2

Early History of the Byne family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Byne research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1321, 1399, 1498, 1522, 1600, 1607 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Byne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Byne Spelling Variations

The spellings of Scottish names dating from the medieval era often bear little resemblance to those seen today. They vary enormously because scribes in that time spelled according to their ears. Some spelling variations of the name Byne include Benny, Beny, Bennie, Bennee, Benne, Beney, Benney and others.

Early Notables of the Byne family

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

Migration of the Byne family

The farms of Scottish settlers soon dotted the east coast of the colonies that would become the nations of the United States and Canada. Many of those migrants and their children went on to play important roles in the founding the great nations of North America. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Scottish name Byne or a variant listed above, including: William Bennie who was a saddle bag preacher in Boston in 1635; Stephen Benney settled in New York in 1822; Edward Benny settled in Virginia in 1654; along with James and Joseph, and Alexander who settled in the same state..

Contemporary Notables of the name Byne (post 1700) +

Arthur Byne (1884-1935), American specialist in the history of Spanish art and architecture, credited with promoting Spanish culture and its revival in the United States
Mildred Stapley Byne (1875-1941), American art historian, wife of Arthur Byne

The Byne 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: Virtute et opera
Motto Translation: By virtue and energy.

Sources +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Liber Niger Scutarii ("Black Book of the Exchequer"), containing reports by county on feudal holdings in England in 1166 (reign of Henry II)