Ballantyne History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  Scotland 
  Ireland 


The ancestors of the Ballantyne family lived among the Strathclyde-Briton people of the Scottish/English Borderlands. Ballantyne is a name for someone who lived in Roxburghshire, where the family was found since the early Middle Ages. One source claims the name was of local origin and denoted "a place of ancient pagan worship among the Celts, whose principal deity was Belen or Baal, the sun. To the honor of this deity, the Celts lighted fires on the 1st of May and Midsummer day. Baalantine signifies 'the fire of Baal,' from Baden and teine, Gaelic, fire. " 1 2

Early Origins of the Ballantyne family

The surname Ballantyne was first found in Roxburghshire "probably from the lands of Bellenden in the parish of Roberton. There is also a Ballinton, Ballintoun or Ballintome mentioned in Stirling Retours. " 3 4

"This Scottish name has undergone remarkable changes. 'Sir Richard of Bannochtine of the Corhous,' who flourished c. 1460, sometimes wrote himself Bannachty, and his son is called Sir John Bannatyne. This spelling continued till temp. Charles. II., when the proprietor of Corhouse was called indifferently John Bannatyne and Johne Ballentyne, and his son is described as the son of John Ballenden. In fact, down to a recent period, the forms Bannatyne and Ballantyne have been used indifferently by brothers of one house, and even by the same individual at different times. " 5

Early History of the Ballantyne family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ballantyne research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1153, 1460, 1545, 1553, 1563, 1577, 1591, 1605, 1608, 1616, 1630, 1642, 1661, 1671, 1680, 1800 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Ballantyne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ballantyne Spelling Variations

Spelling and translation were hardly exact sciences in Medieval Scotland. Sound, rather than any set of rules, was the basis for spellings, so one name was often spelled different ways even within a single document. Spelling variations are thus an extremely common occurrence in Medieval Scottish names. Ballantyne has been spelled Ballentine, Ballantyne, Ballantine, Ballentyne, Bannentyne, Bannantyne, Ballanden, Ballanden, Ballendine, Ballendyne, Ballentine and many more.

Early Notables of the Ballantyne family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Ballantyne Ranking

In the United States, the name Ballantyne is the 17,893rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6 However, in New Zealand, the name Ballantyne is ranked the 836th most popular surname with an estimated 870 people with that name. 7

Migration of the Ballantyne family to Ireland

Some of the Ballantyne family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Ballantyne migration to the United States +

Such hard times forced many to leave their homeland in search of opportunity across the Atlantic. Many of these families settled along the east coast of North America in communities that would become the backbones of the young nations of the United States and Canada. The ancestors of many of these families have rediscovered their roots in the 20th century through the establishment of Clan societies and other patriotic Scottish organizations. Among them:

Ballantyne Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Ballantyne Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Ballantyne migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ballantyne Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Ballantyne Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Ballantyne migration to Australia +

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

Ballantyne Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Ballantyne migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Ballantyne Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Ballantyne (post 1700) +
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