Show ContentsBonting History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Bonting Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Bonting

What does the name Bonting mean?

The are many presumed origins for the name Bonting. We will attempt to list a few of them here. The name may be "derived from a nickname, 'good little pet,' a term of endearment for a little child, afterwards applied more generally, a term of endearment" 1

"The name is curiously interesting as surviving in one of our favourite nursery rhymes, a strong proof of its antiquity: 'Baby, baby Bunting, Daddy's gone a hunting, Gone to get a rabbit skin To wrap his baby Bunting in.'" 2

Another source claims the name to be "Anglo-French-Latin, a corruption form of the French Bonnetin, Bonneton." 3 Another source claims the name was "a kind of bird." 4 Another claims the name to be "from the Flemish, Buntinx." 5

Early Origins of the Bonting family

The surname Bonting was first found in Peeblesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd nam Pùballan), former county in South-central Scotland.

The earliest record of the family in England was Wluric Buntin who was listed in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk in 1188. Later William Buntin was listed in the Assize Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1260 and Henry Buntyng was listed in 1332. 6

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 elude to the widespread use with a wide variety of spellings: Alice Bunetun, Oxfordshire; Thomas Bunetun, Oxfordshire; Hugh Bonting, Lincolnshire; Henry Buntyng, Suffolk; and John Buntyng, Sussex. 2

"The name of Bunting, which now has its home in the Ashbourn district [of Derbyshire and] is also established in Norfolk and Essex. In the 13th century this name occurred, usually as Bunting or Buntyng but sometimes as Buntig or Buntyg, in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, and Sussex (H. R.). It still remains in Norfolk, and occurs also in Essex." 7

"Bunting or Buntyng was a common name among the Norfolk clergy in the 15th century; at that time, also, a family of the name lived at Framingham, near Norwich (Bl.). In the 13th century it was still represented in Norfolk. The Bantings, according to Kemble, were an Anglo-Saxon Clan. " 7

Later, Ireland became home to many of the family, but that migration is discussed in more detail later.

Early History of the Bonting family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bonting research. Another 142 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1489, 1605, 1650, 1664, 1672, 1773, 1843 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Bonting History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bonting Spelling Variations

Before the printing press standardized spelling in the last few hundred years, no general rules existed in the English language. Spelling variations in Scottish names from the Middle Ages are common even within a single document. Bonting has been spelled Buntin, Bunten, Bunton, Bunting, Buntain, Buntaine, Buntine, Bontine, Buntyn and many more.

Early Notables of the Bonting family

More information is included under the topic Early Bonting Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bonting family to Ireland

Some of the Bonting family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 206 words (15 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bonting family

For Scottish immigrants, the great expense of travel to North America did not seem such a problem in those unstable times. Acres of land awaited them and many got the chance to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. These Scots and their ancestors went on to play important roles in the forging of the great nations of the United States and Canada. Among them: William Bunting who settled in Maryland in 1776; Sarah Bunting settled in Barbados in 1678 with her husband Samuel; Richard Bunting settled in Bermuda in 1635.
  1. Halliwell, James Orchard. A Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial WordsLondon: John Russel Smith, Old Compton Street, Soho, 1848, Digital, 2 Vols
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  4. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  5. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  6. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  7. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.

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