Bennin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

Etymology of Bennin

What does the name Bennin mean?

The story of the Bennin family stretches back through time to the Viking settlers who populated the rugged shores of Scotland in the Medieval era. The Bennin name comes from a place named by these Vikings and was used by a family who lived in the old barony of Binney, in the parish of Uphall, in the county of West Lothian.

According to Scottish lore, there was once a man called Binnie, who at the time supplied hay to Linlithgow Castle which was at the time held by the English. He planned to have Scottish soldiers near the gate on a certain day. He placed several of his sons in a wagon, cover them with hay and drove up to the castle. The portcullis was raised and just as the wagon was underneath it, the ropes were cut so the portcullis could not fall. The Scottish soldiers rushed in and put the garrison to the sword. Binnie was thenceforth named Binning. 1

Early Origins of the Bennin family

The surname Bennin was first found in the West Lothian, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

One of the first records of the family was William Bennings (fl. 1180), an English judge, "was, according to Giraldus Cambrensis, sent to Ireland by Henry II in 1176 as one of four envoys, of whom two were to remain with the viceroy, Richard FitzGilbert, earl of Striguil, and two were to return, bringing with them Reimund Fitzgerald, whose military exploits had aroused the king's jealousy. " 2

William Benyng or De Binn (fl. 1250), was an early Scottish "biographer, [who] may be presumed to have been a native of Binning in Linlithgowshire. He was proir of the Cistercian abbey of Newbattle until 1243, when he was elected abbot of Cupar. He resigned this office on 29 Sept. 1258, probably on account of old age. The date of his death is unknown. " 2

Early History of the Bennin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bennin research. Another 147 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1243, 1258, 1411, 1627, 1653 and 1666 are included under the topic Early Bennin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bennin Spelling Variations

In the Middle Ages, no real standards were established to judge the accuracy of spelling and translation. They were done mostly by ear and intuition, and enormous numbers of spelling variations were the unsurprising result. Bennin has appeared as Binney, Binning, Binnie, Benning, Bennyng, Bynnie, Bynny, Bynnyng, Byning, Bynning and many more.

Early Notables of the Bennin family

Hugh Binning, (1627-1653), Scottish philosopher and regent of the University of Glasgow. He was the son of John Binning of Dalvenan, Ayrshire. His maternal uncle was "one of the youthful martyrs of Scotland - Hugh M'Kail, who was hanged at Edinburgh on 22...
Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bennin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bennin migration to the United States +

North America was far from Britain's oppressive monarchy. There, the Scottish found land and freedom, and many even the opportunity to pay back England in the American War of Independence. This brave heritage survives today largely in Clan societies and other patriotic Scottish organizations. Research into passenger and immigration lists has brought forth evidence of the early members of the Bennin family in North America:

Bennin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Edward Bennin, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1840

The Bennin 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: Virtute doloque
Motto Translation: By valour and craft.

Sources +

Polson, Alexander, The Romance of Scottish Crests and Mottoes. Inverness: Walter Alexander, Inglis Street 1929. Print
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print