Show ContentsBinns History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the Binns surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in the village and parish of Binns near Great Smeaton in Yorkshire. In medieval times, the name literally meant hollows, and indicated that the bearer lived near a hollow.

Early Origins of the Binns family

The surname Binns was first found in Yorkshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Binns family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Binns research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1500 is included under the topic Early Binns History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Binns Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Binns include Binns, Bins, Binnes, Binn and others.

Early Notables of the Binns family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • Binns of Worcestershire

Binns Ranking

In the United States, the name Binns is the 7,046th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1

Ireland Migration of the Binns family to Ireland

Some of the Binns 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.


United States Binns migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Binns Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Mary Binns who settled in New England in 1775
Binns Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Benjamin Pemberton Binns moved in Philadelphia in 1817
  • Charles Binns, who landed in Philadelphia in 1857

Australia Binns migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Binns Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr.John Binns, (Bimms), (b. 1801), aged 18, Irish painter and glazier who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Bencoolen" on 24th April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia before being transferred to Tasmania via the "Admiral Cockburn", he died in 1824 when he was executed 2
  • Mr. John Binns, English convict who was convicted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Blundell" on 13th March 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
  • Agnes Binns, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lady Bruce" in 1846 4

New Zealand Binns migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Binns Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Richard Binns, aged 29, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Oriental" in 1840
  • Mary Ann Binns, aged 28, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Oriental" in 1840
  • Mr. Richard Binns, (b. 1810), aged 29, British settler travelling from London with 2 children aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 5
  • Mrs. Binns, (b. 1811), aged 28, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 5
  • George Binns, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Binns (post 1700) +

  • Edward Binns (1916-1990), American actor
  • John Alexander Binns, American agriculturist in Vermont, an early experimenter with gypsum as a fertilizer
  • George Binns (d. 1918), English actor
  • Malcolm Binns (b. 1936), English pianist
  • John Binns (1772-1860), Irish journalist and politician, the son of an ironmonger in Dublin 6
  • Brigadier Leslie Gilbert Binns (b. 1900), Australian Commanding Officer 4th Australian Base Sub-Area in 1945 7
  • Patrick George Binns (b. 1948), Canadian politician, Premier of Prince Edward Island
  • Kenneth Binns (1882-1969), Scottish-born, Australian librarian, a founding member of the Australian Institute of Librarians
  • Professor Howard Binns, University of Guelph

HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Leslie M Binns, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 8
HMS Royal Oak
  • Frederick Beaumont Binns (d. 1939), British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 9


The Binns 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: Labore et diligentia
Motto Translation: With labor and diligence.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bencoolen
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blundell
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LADY BRUCE 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846LadyBruce.htm
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  6. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 24 Jun. 2019
  7. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, August 30) Leslie Binns. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Binns/Leslie_Gilbert/Australia.html
  8. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  9. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html


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