Bohannan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

A family in the Pictish tribe of ancient Scotland was the first to use the name Bohannan. They lived in the great lands of Buchanan in Stirlingshire where this illustrious Clan held extensive territories since early times. Although many of today's members of the Clan Buchanan can trace their heritage as far back as McAlpin, the first to establish the name of Buchan was Anselan O'Kyan, son of the King of Ulster about 1016.

It is generally believed that the Buchanans of Auchmar received lands bordering Loch Lomond by King Malcolm II for services rendered against the Danes. And records do confirm that Walter de Buchanan had a land grant in Auchmarr in 1373. A Maurice Buchanan also acted as treasurer to Princess Margaret of France at this time.

Early Origins of the Bohannan family

The surname Bohannan was first found in Lennox. In Gaelic, "both-chanain" means "the seat of the canon," suggesting an ecclesiastical origin. The Clan received its name from the great lands of Buchanan in Stirlingshire where they had held extensive territories since early times. The earliest mention of the name placed him in Stirling (now part of the modern region of Central) where in an early document, a Dominus Absolone de Buchkan was a witness to a charter in 1224.

"The name of this place was originally Inchcaileoch, which it received from an island in Loch Lomond. This name is of uncertain origin; but the family who used it in consequence of having, at a very early period, obtained a grant of the lands so called, sprang from Anselan, a native of Ireland, who is supposed to have located himself here in the 11th century." 1

Early History of the Bohannan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bohannan research. Another 191 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1016, 1296, 1506, 1582, 1595, 1652, 1681, 1690, 1759 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Bohannan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bohannan Spelling Variations

In medieval Scotland, names were more often spelled according to sound than any regular set of rules. An enormous number of spelling variations were the result. Over the years, the name Bohannan has been spelled Buchanan, Bucanan, Bucanion, Bucanen, Bucanon, Buchannan, Buchannon, Buchannen, Buchanon, Buchanen, Bohannon and many more.

Early Notables of the Bohannan family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was George Buchanan (1506-1582), Scottish humanist, scholar, and educator; as well as John Buchanan of that Ilk (d. 1681), Clan Chief and last Laird of Buchanan and Buchanan of Arnprior.Andrew Buchanan (1690-1759), of Drumpellier, was Lord Provost of Glasgow, and was descended from a branch of the old family of Buchanan of Buchanan and Leny. He was the second of four sons of George Buchanan, maltster, Glasgow, one of the covenanters who fought at Bothwell Bridge. 2George Buchanan (1506-1582), was a Scottish scholar, and third son...
Another 92 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bohannan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bohannan Ranking

In the United States, the name Bohannan is the 9,741^st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Bohannan family to Ireland

Some of the Bohannan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 65 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bohannan migration to Canada +

In such difficult times, Ireland, Australia, and North America looked like better homes for many Scots. The trips were expensive and grueling, but also rewarding, as the colonies were havens for those unwelcome in the old country. That legacy did not die easily, though, and many were forced to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. The Scottish legacy has resurface in more recent times, though, through Clan societies, highland games, and other organizations. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the old Scottish name of Bohannan:

Bohannan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Michael Bohannan, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1843

Contemporary Notables of the name Bohannan (post 1700) +

Wilson Bohannan, American founder of the Wilson Bohannan Company in 1860
Laura Bohannan (1922-2002), née Laura Marie Altman Smith, an American cultural anthropologist who used the pen name Elenore Smith Bowen, best known for her 1961 article, "Shakespeare in the Bush"
Charles G. Bohannan, American politician, 19th and 21st Mayor of South Norwalk, Connecticut
Thomas K. Bohannan (b. 1955), American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer
Paul James Bohannan (1920-2007), American anthropologist and Rhodes Scholar
William J. H. Bohannan, American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Stamford, Connecticut, 1897 4
Charles G. Bohannan, American politician, Mayor of South Norwalk, Connecticut, 1897-98, 1899-1901 4

The Bohannan 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: Clarior hinc honos
Motto Translation: Brighter hence the honour.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html