The surname Bonair was first found in Herefordshire where Bonner is an ancient name. "As Boner and Bonere, it occurred in Oxfordshire and Huntingdonshire in the reign of Edward I." [1]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bonair research. Another 231 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1281, 1281, 1700, 1451, 1273, 1500, 1569, 1548 and 1548 are included under the topic Early Bonair History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Bonner, Boner, Bonners, Bonar, Bonnar, Bonare and many more.
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Edmund Bonner (c.1500-1569), Bishop of London, who became known as Bloody Bonner for his role in the persecution of heretics under the Catholic government of Mary I of England. He was later...
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bonair Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Bonair family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Bonair or a variant listed above: John and Michael Bonar landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1847 and 1879 respectively; Hugh Bonar settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1767.