Show ContentsBanes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Banes is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Banes family lived in Baynes, near Bayeux, Normandy. [1] Today Baynes is part of Lower Normandy.

Early Origins of the Banes family

The surname Banes was first found in Dover, where Eustace de Bauns, witnessed a charter of William Peverill of Dover temp. William the Conqueror. Lucas de Bans, or Bayons, was from Lincolnshire. [1]

Indeed the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Henry de Bayns and John de Bayns in Lincolnshire at that time. A few years later, John de Bayns was listed in Staffordshire temp. Henry III-Edward I. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls had only one listing of the name, Thomas de Baines in 1379. [2] The Assize Rolls of Lancashire listed William Banes in 1246. [3]

"The principal mansion [of Littledale, Lancashire], called the Craggs, was granted by the first lord Monteagle to Richard Baines, his standard-bearer, for heroic conduct in the battle of Flodden-Field; and on the estate is a field which the standard-bearer named Flodden, from its similarity to the field whence his fortunes and honors sprang." [4]

From about the 16th century, the name was found further north in Scotland. "Alexander Banys had a respite in 1541 for art and part of the slauchter of Schir William Stevinsoune, chaplane, on the Links of Kincrag about nine years before. This name was not uncommon in St. Andrews in the sixteenth century, and Thomas Banis, a bluegown, is recorded there in 1583. Andrew Beanes, flesher in Edinburgh, 1617, and another Andrew Baines was locksmith there, 1676." [5]

Early History of the Banes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Banes research. Another 163 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1219, 1246, 1273, 1379, 1546, 1559, 1577, 1622, 1623, 1660, 1671, 1676, 1680, 1774 and 1848 are included under the topic Early Banes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Banes Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Baines, Banes, Baynes, Bayns, Baynnes, Bainnes and others.

Early Notables of the Banes family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Adam Baynes (bapt.1622-1671), an English parliamentary army officer and MP for Leeds during the CommonwealthRalph Baynes (d. 1559), was Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry and a native of Knowsthorp in Yorkshire. [6]Roger Baynes (1546-1623), was Secretary to Cardinal Allen and was born in England in 1546. [6]Sir Thomas Baines, M.D. (1622-1680), was an English physician, the lifelong companion of...
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Banes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Banes Ranking

In the United States, the name Banes is the 14,995th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [7]


United States Banes migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Banes or a variant listed above:

Banes Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Martha Banes, aged 20, who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Defence" [8]
  • Was Banes, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1651 [8]
  • William Banes, who landed in New England in 1651 [8]
  • William Banes, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1652 [8]
  • William Banes, who settled in Boston in 1652
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Banes Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Alexander Banes, who landed in Virginia in 1705 [8]
  • Win Banes, who arrived in Virginia in 1713 [8]
Banes Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Banes, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1820 [8]

Contemporary Notables of the name Banes (post 1700) +

  • Lisa Banes (1955-2021), American Drama Desk Award nominated actress, known for her work in Gone Girl (2014), A Cure for Wellness (2016) and Cocktail (1988)
  • Sally Banes (b. 1949), American dance historian, writer, and critic
  • Bobby Joe "Joey" Banes Jr. (b. 1967), American former NFL offensive tackle who played in the 1990 and 1992 seasons
  • Matthew John Banes (b. 1979), English cricketer
  • James Banes Blyth (1911-1979), Scottish professional footballer


The Banes 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: Vel arte vel marte
Motto Translation: Either by art or strength.


  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. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. 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)
  6. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  7. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  8. 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)


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