Show ContentsBanis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Banis family can trace its noble origins to the Italian region of Tuscany. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adapt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames was not complete until the modern era, but the use of hereditary family names in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries. Italian hereditary surnames were developed according to fairly general principles and they are characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. Although the most traditional type of family name found in the region of Tuscany is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, local surnames are also found. Local names, which are the least frequent of the major types of surnames found in Italy, are derived from a place-name where the original bearer once resided or held land. Often Italian local surnames bore the prefix "di," which signifies emigration from one place to another, but does not necessarily denote nobility. The Banis family lived in the region of Tuscany.

Early Origins of the Banis family

The surname Banis was first found in the city of Florence.

Early History of the Banis family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Banis research. The years 1343, 1460, 1462, 1468, 1500, 1524, 1686, 1690 and 1720 are included under the topic Early Banis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Banis Spelling Variations

In comparison with other European surnames, Italian surnames have a surprising number of forms. They reflect the regional variations and the many dialects of the Italian language, each with its own distinctive features. For example, in Northern Italy the typical Italian surname suffix is "i", whereas in Southern Italy it is "o". Additionally, spelling changes frequently occurred because medieval scribes and church officials often spelled names as they sounded rather than according to any specific spelling rules. The spelling variations in the name Banis include Bini, Bina, Bino, Bin, Del Bino, Binelli, Binello, Binetti, Binozzi, Binacci, Binazzi, Binassi, Binacchi and many more.

Early Notables of the Banis family

Prominent among members of the family was Bernardo Bini, a Florentine count in 1460; Piero di Giovanni di Iacopo Bini, a priest in Florence from 1462 to 1468; Giovanni Francesco Bini, a prominent author in Florence in the 15th century; another Giovanni Francesco Bini, a...
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Banis Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Banis migration to the United States +

An examination into the immigration and passenger lists has discovered a number of people bearing the name Banis:

Banis Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Henry Banis, who arrived in Maryland in 1665 1


  1. 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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