Baynham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The present generation of the Baynham family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in Norfolk.

However, one source notes the name was originally Welsh "derived from the name of an ancestor. —Ab-Eignon' (Welsh), i.e. 'the son of Eignon' or 'Ennion.' Robert ap Eignon had for his son Robert Baynham, of Chorewall, in the forest of Dean. Henceforward the family were so known. The name looks wonderfully English and local, but, as shown, is not so." 1

Early Origins of the Baynham family

The surname Baynham was first found in the county of Norfolk. Baynham Hall is a 17th century manor house located in Michaelchurch-On-Arrow, Gladestry, Powys, Wales. We do know that Hugh Lloyd purchased Baynham Hall in about 1830, but as far as who originally had the manor house built remains a mystery.

John Bankyn or Banekyne (fl. 1382), was an "Augustinian friar and opponent of Wycliffe, born in London and educated in the Augustinian monastery of that city and afterwards at Oxford, where he attained the degree of doctor of divinity. " 2

Hugh Benham or Hugo Benhyem (d. 1282), was Bishop of Aberdeen and succeeded Richard Pottock in the see in 1272. 2

Cadugan ap Eynon was listed in Cheshire in 1285 and later Iorworth ap Egnon was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1287. 3

Early History of the Baynham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Baynham research. Another 212 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1458, 1476, 1497, 1500, 1501, 1514, 1516, 1532, 1536, 1543, 1546, 1557, 1565, 1582, 1593, 1602, 1606, 1611, 1628, 1629, 1664, 1681, 1738 and 1760 are included under the topic Early Baynham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Baynham Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Baynham include Baynham, Bayneham, Bainham, Banham, Banam and others.

Early Notables of the Baynham family

Notables of the family at this time include

Thomas Baynham (d. 1500), Constable of St Briavel's Castle. His descendant, Sir Christopher Baynham (d.1557) was the first of the family to hold Clearwell, a village and former ancient manor in the Fo...
Sir George Baynham (died 1546), was Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1543; and his third son, Thomas Baynham (1536-1611), was Lord of the Manor of Clearwell, in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. He se...
Clearwell Manor was passed onto Cicely Baynham, one of the two daughters of Thomas Baynham. She married Sir William Throckmorton, 1st Baronet who died in 1628. Their descendants carried Cicely's maide...
John Baynham (born 1565), was an English politician and Member of the Parliament of England for Queenborough, Kent in 1593

Migration of the Baynham family to Ireland

Some of the Baynham 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.

Baynham migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Baynham were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Baynham Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William Baynham who settled in New England in 1718
Henry Baynham also settled in New England in 1763
Richard Baynham, who settled in Maryland in 1774

Baynham migration to Australia +

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

Baynham Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Thomas Baynham, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Andromeda" on November 13, 1832, settling in New South Wales, Australia 4
Mr. Henry Baynham, British Convict who was convicted in Hereford, England for 15 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 25th April 1840, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Baynham (post 1700) +

Gordon Craig Baynham (b. 1944), American former NFL football running back who played from 1967 to 1972
Ronald Leslie "Ron" Baynham (1929-2024), English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper who played three times for England
Mr. Charles Baynham, Welsh coal miner working in Tynewydd coal mine in Wales on 11th April 1877, he was awarded the Albert Medal for lifesaving
David Morton Baynham (1902-1974), Welsh professional football full back
John "Johnny" Baynham (1918-1995), Welsh professional football outside forward who played from 1946 to 1949
Peter Baynham (b. 1963), Welsh-born, British comedy writer and performer, Academy Award-nominated screenwriter

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 27) Andromeda voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1832 with 186 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/andromeda/1832
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1840