Show ContentsBayan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

When the ancestors of the Bayan family emigrated to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066 they brought their family name with them. They lived in Baynes, near Bayeux, Normandy. [1] Today Baynes is part of Lower Normandy.

Early Origins of the Bayan family

The surname Bayan 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 Bayan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bayan 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 Bayan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bayan Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Bayan has been recorded under many different variations, including Baines, Banes, Baynes, Bayns, Baynnes, Bainnes and others.

Early Notables of the Bayan 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 Bayan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Bayan migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Bayans were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Bayan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Cristobal Bayan, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1816 [7]

Contemporary Notables of the name Bayan (post 1700) +

  • Bayan Peter Northcott (1940-2022), English music critic and composer, born in Harrow on the Hill (London)


The Bayan 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. 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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