Surname Baynham - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Baynham: What does the surname Baynham mean?
The surname Baynham is of Old English origin. It is a locational name derived from Baynham Court in Herefordshire, England. The place name "Baynham" is believed to be derived from an Old English personal name "Bega" and "ham," which means 'home' or 'homestead.' Therefore, the name Baynham roughly translates as 'Bega's homestead' or 'the homestead of Bega.' As a locational surname, it likely was used to identify someone who originated from Baynham. However, the exact historical meaning may have varied based on regional dialects and languages. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England, this practice of using surnames began in the 12th and 13th centuries, and it was also around this period that the surname Baynham appeared in records for the first time.
Order DNA origin analysisBaynham: Where does the name Baynham come from?
The surname Baynham is of English origin. It is believed to derive from a place name, possibly Bainham, which might have been located in Herefordshire, Shropshire, or another county in the West of England. The components of the name "Baynham" may come from the Old English words "beag" (ring) or "beaga" (peak, corner) and "ham" (home, settlement).
Therefore, Baynham could be interpreted as "settlement at the ring" perhaps referring to a circular clearing or a bend in a river, or "settlement at the peak" implying a hilltop community. The exact geographic source of the name, however, seems to have been lost over the centuries.
The surname is not particularly common today. It is found most often in England, specifically areas such as Herefordshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire, even though families with the Baynham name could be scattered across the UK. Some of them likely emigrated to North America and other parts of the world during the past few centuries, so the Baynham name might also occur in the United States, Canada, Australia, and elsewhere.
Variations of the surname Baynham
The surname Baynham originated from the Welsh name "ap Einion" meaning "son of Einion." Over time, the pronunciation and spelling of the name changed due to regional dialects, and it was Anglicized to various forms such as Baynham, Bynam, Banum, Bainham, Baynem, Bainam etc.
Also, interchangeability of 'm' and 'n' at the end of the name resulted in other variations such as Baynan and Baynon. Both Baynham and Baynam seem to have originated from the same root and may have transformed independently in different regions.
There is also possibility of connection and confusion with Banham surname because of pronunciation similarities, although Banham is believed to have a completely different geographic origin.
Similar sounding names or misspellings like Bayneman, Beynham, or Bynham might also be encountered.
Generally, these variations occurred due to illiteracy or as a result of census officials and other government workers recording the names as they were phonetically heard. The surnames can often be traced back to an ancestor's trade or occupation, may be derived from ancient landmarks or geographical areas, clan names or even physical attributes of an individual.
Famous people with the name Baynham
- Arthur Mathews: He is a British writer known for his work in comedy, often in collaboration with Graham Linehan. One of his most famous work is the sitcom "Father Ted".
- Peter Baynham: He is a Welsh television writer and screenwriter. He has contributed to several British television comedies, including "I'm Alan Partridge", "The Day Today", "Brass Eye", and the spoof chat show "Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge". He was also heavily involved in the writing of "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" and the fictional biography which followed.
- Robert Baynham: He was an American politician from Georgia who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1949 to 1955.
- David Baynham: He is an English former professional footballer. He played for Stockport County and Exeter City in the Football League during the 1980s.
- Darren Baynham: He is a British former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s. He played club level rugby for Hull Kingston Rovers (loan), and York, as a winger.