Contents [hide]

Banbury History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Banbury History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancient roots of the Banbury family name are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name Banbury comes from when the family lived in Banbury, a town in the county of Oxfordshire.

Early Origins of the Banbury family

The surname Banbury was first found in Oxfordshire, at Banbury, a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell, now in the Cherwell District. The place name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was first listed as Banesberie 1 but a Saxon chieftain is said to have built a stockade there as early as the 6th century. Literally, the place name means "stronghold of a man called Ban(n)a," from the Old English personal name + "burh." 2 Banbury Castle was built in 1135 by Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln, in a motte and bailey design. King Stephen claimed the castle in 1139 but later that year he returned it to the bishop. Archeological digs in the 1970s confirmed that it was rebuilt between 1225 and 1250. In 1648, it was demolished and stones from the castle were later used to build houses in the town.

Early History of the Banbury family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Banbury research. Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Banbury History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Banbury Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Banbury has appeared include Banbury, Bandbury, Bandebury, Bandury, Bambury, Bamberry and many more.

Early Notables of the Banbury family

Distinguished members of the family include

Reverend Thomas Banbury

Migration of the Banbury family to Ireland

Some of the Banbury 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.

Banbury migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Banbury arrived in North America very early:

Banbury Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Jane Banbury, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1685

Banbury Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Ann Banbury who settled in Baltimore in 1790

Banbury migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Banbury Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Robert Banbury was a fisherman in Burin, Newfoundland in 1871 3
Joseph and Mentor Banbury were fishermen in Pool's Cove, Newfoundland in 1871 3
Samuel Banbury was a planter in By du Nord, Newfoundland in 1877 3

Banbury migration to Australia +

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

Banbury Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Thomas Banbury, English grocer's boy who was convicted in London, England for 7 years for deception, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 24th March 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
Mr. Joseph Banbury, (b. 1827), aged 25, English brick maker who was convicted in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England for 10 years for house breaking, transported aboard the "Dudbrook" on 17th November 1852, arriving in Western Australia, he died in 1880 5

Banbury 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:

Banbury Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John Banbury, aged 29, a stonemason, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Golden Sea" in 1874
Mary A. Banbury, aged 23, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Golden Sea" in 1874
Stephen Banbury, aged 26, a stonemason, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Golden Sea" in 1874
Sophia Banbury, aged 22, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Golden Sea" in 1874
Albert Banbury, aged 2, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Golden Sea" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Banbury (post 1700) +

Jen Banbury, American playwright, author and journalist who studied at Yale University and was a member of Manuscript Society
Coach Banbury, American football coach, the 10th head college football coach for Fairmount College (now Wichita State University) in 1918
Blake Banbury, Canadian two-time Directors Guild of Canada Award nominated director, known for his work on 40 Days and 40 Nights (2002), Elf (2003) and The Deadly Pledge (2007)
Frith Banbury (1912-2008), English actor and stage director, known for his roles in The Holly and the Ivy, Waters of the Moon, and The Deep Blue Sea; he was a regular director at the Old Vic
Sir Frederick Banbury (1850-1936), 1st Baron Banbury of Southam, British businessman and Conservative Member of Parliament

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 23rd July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dudbrook