Surname Bonar - Meaning and Origin

Bonar: What does the surname Bonar mean?

The last name Bonar is a topographical surname derived from the Scottish Gaelic "Bonnamhuir", meaning “foot of the moor”. The name likely originated as a descriptor of people who lived in or near areas of marsh and moorland.

The name can be found throughout Scotland, Ireland, and England, but is mostly concentrated in the Scottish Highlands.

In the 1400’s, the Bonar family developed into a powerful political force in Scotland. Sir John Bonar was appointed to be the Chamberlain of the Royal Household in 1506, and the family later held numerous landed titles in Scotland and had a major presence in the Scottish Parliament.

The Bonar family, and the name itself, has been associated with honour and loyalty for centuries. The name is still in use today, though the surname is most commonly found in Scotland, Ireland, and England.

It speaks to the family’s long-standing commitment to public service, and loyalty to one another and to their homeland, that the, Bonar surname has persevered throughout the centuries. The name Bonar carries with it a strong sense of heritage and loyalty, and cultivates a strong community amongst its members.

Bonar: Where does the name Bonar come from?

The last name Bonar is quite common today across the globe, although the majority of Bonars originate from Scotland. In terms of where Bonars are found today, the top countries are the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia. In the United Kingdom, Bonar is most commonly found in the Scottish regions of Dumfries & Galloway and South Ayrshire. In the United States, Bonar can be found in most states, but is most prevalent in California, Nevada, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. In Canada, Bonar is dispersed across most of the provinces, but most prominently in British Columbia, Ontario, and Alberta. In Australia, New South Wales and Victoria are the two states with the highest concentration of people with the Bonar last name.

Bonar is an occupational surname, originally derived from the Old English words bonga (a messenger) or bun (a small, rounded hill). It is believed that the earliest recorded Bonar was John de Bonar, who served in the retinue of King Edward I of England between the years 1274 and 1297. Other records from the thirteenth century show that the surname Bonar did not necessarily indicate that a family was of a higher class. Bonars can be found living in both urban and rural areas of Scotland, usually as members of the wealthier, higher-class estate owners. Families bearing the surname could also be found among the poorer classes of Scotland until the mid-seventeenth century. After this period, the broader family began to disperse to other countries like Australia, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Bonar

The surname Bonar is an anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Ó hAonmhar which means "son of honor". The spelling variants of Bonar vary significantly, including, but not limited to, Boneur, Boner, Bonner, Bonar, Bonnur, Boner, Boneurre, Bunnar, Buner, Bonar, Boneaur, Bonur, Boneare, Bunnere, and Bonarow.

Other distinct but related surnames of similar origin to Bonar include the Scottish MacAonghais, "son of Angus" (McInnes), Junkur, Junkurke, and Jenkin; McEwan, "son of Ewen" (MacEwen); McIlhaney and McIlhinney "son of Henry" (MacHenry); Macomish, "son of Thomas" (McThomas); and the Irish name Lawlor, "son of Strabain" (McStrabain).

Due to migration and immigration, the Bonar surname can also be found in countries such as England, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the United States. The spelling of the surname in these countries often varies from the spelling found in Scotland, for example Bonar can be found as Bonner and Bonarow in the US.

In addition, the anglicized variants of the name have been adopted over time, the most common being Bonner, although this form has also been adopted for other Reasons. For example in the US, Bonner is a very common name within the African-American community, with many popularizing it as a first name, such as the rapper "Ludacris". However, this spelling is not related to the Bonar surname.

Overall, Bonar is a surname of Scottish origins which follows the traditional naming conventions of the clans of Scotland. The spelling variants are numerous and vary geographically along with other closely related surnames of similar origin, such as MacAonghais, McEwan, Lawlor, and McIlhaney.

Famous people with the name Bonar

• John Clifford Bonar (Canadian politician)
• Horatius Bonar (19th century Scottish theologian)
• Aaron Bonar (Canadian jockey)
• Amy Bonar (Scottish artist)
• Splinter Bonar (Australian professional rugby player)
• Vanessa Bonar (Australian actress known for her roles in popular TV soaps)
• James Bonar (Australian Trotskyist political activist)
• Geeta Bonar (Indian-American philanthropist)
• William Thin Bonar (Scottish architect in the 19th century)
• Bessie Bonar (American author and folklorist)
• Lawrence Bonar (Canadian-American evangelical minister)
• John Bonar (Vancouver sculptor)
• Cameron Bonar (Canadian musician known for his work with Grimes)
• Sir George Bonar (British Conservative politician)
• Doug Bonar (British theatre designer and director)
• Joe Bonar (Atlanta-based musician and songwriter)
• Valentina Bonar (American fashion model from the 1950s)
• Isaac Limon Bonar (Mexican doctor and humanitarian)
• Gottlieb Bonar (19th century Swiss-American pastor and author)
• Maria Bonar (Romanian actress and children's book author)

Other surnames

BonackerBonakerBonardBonardelBonauerBonaventura