Show ContentsBingaman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The vast movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066 brought the Bingaman family name to the British Isles. They lived at Bingham in the county of Nottinghamshire. The name of that place is derived from the Old Norse word bingr, meaning stall or manger, and the Old English word ham, meaning settlement or village. Another reference claims the family descended from "De Buisli, from Buisli or Builly, near Neûchatel, Normandy (often supposed to be of Saxon origin.)" 1 The same reference claims "Roger de Busliaco held 149 lordships in barony 1086, chiefly in York [Yorkshire] and Notts [Nottinghamshire], which were entitled the Honour of Tickhill. He also held Sutton, Somerset, from Roger de Arundel. One of his lordships was Bingham, Notts, and estate of great value and importance." 1 Whichever origin the reader chooses, there is no doubt that Norfolk was the stronghold of the family since ancient times.

Early Origins of the Bingaman family

The surname Bingaman was first found in Nottinghamshire at Bingham, a market town in the Rushcliffe borough that has existed since at least the Domesday Book where it was listed as Bingheham 2 which probably meant "homestead of the family or followers of a man called Bynna" from the Old English personal name + ham. 3 "This place was possessed previously to the Conquest by two Saxon chieftains, and appears to have been anciently more extensive than at present: it had a college, or guild, in honour of St. Mary. " 4

One of the first records of the family was Simon Binham or Bynham (fl. 1335), English chronicler, a monk of the priory of Binham, Norfolk, one of the cells belonging to the abbey of St. Albans. 5

A few years later, William Binham or Bynham (fl. 1370), the English theologian, was a native of Binham in Norfolk, where there was a Benedictine priory dependent on the abbey of St. Albans. 5 One may presume that the above two people were related as they both came from the same priory, but there is no written proof.

Early History of the Bingaman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bingaman research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1090, 1246, 1300, 1528, 1573, 1584, 1599, 1606, 1607, 1615, 1625, 1639, 1645, 1654, 1658, 1659, 1662, 1668, 1673, 1682, 1689, 1692, 1714, 1723, 1890 and 1915 are included under the topic Early Bingaman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bingaman Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Bingham, Binham, Bingam, Binghame and others.

Early Notables of the Bingaman family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Richard Bingham or Byngham (1528-1599), English Governor of Connaught, the third son of Richard Bingham, of Melcombe-Bingham, Dorsetshire. "In 1584, Bingham was appointed Governor of Connaught, and knighted at Dublin Castle by Lord-Deputy Perrot on 12 July. " 5John Bingham (1607-1689), was an English divine, born at Derby, and as he was in his eighty-second year when he died in 1689...
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bingaman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bingaman Ranking

In the United States, the name Bingaman is the 8,765th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6

Ireland Migration of the Bingaman family to Ireland

Some of the Bingaman family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 148 words (11 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Bingaman migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Bingaman or a variant listed above:

Bingaman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • W. L. Bingaman, aged 53, who landed in America, in 1895
  • Ellen Bingaman, aged 40, who landed in America, in 1896
Bingaman Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Charles Francis Bingaman, aged 55, who immigrated to the United States, in 1904
  • Marian E. Bingaman, who immigrated to the United States, in 1909
  • Margaret Bingaman, aged 23, who landed in America, in 1911
  • John Ralston Bingaman, aged 26, who immigrated to America, in 1916

Contemporary Notables of the name Bingaman (post 1700) +

  • Kory Bingaman, American artist and graphic novelist, eponym of 28341 Bingaman, a main-belt minor planet
  • Adam Lewis "A.L." Bingaman (1790-1869), American plantation owner in Natchez, Mississippi, member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
  • Lester Alonza Bingaman (1926-1970), American NFL football defensive lineman
  • Jesse Francis "Jeff" Bingaman Jr. (b. 1943), American senior United States Senator from New Mexico


The Bingaman 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: Spes mea Christus
Motto Translation: Christ is my hope.


  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/


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