Find out how popular the first name Buchanan has been for the last 28 years (from 1996 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Buchanan by gender

Based on the last 28 years of data, Buchanan is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Buchanan.

The history of the first name Buchanan

The name Buchanan is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic words "buth" meaning "house" and "chanain" meaning "canon" or "ridge." It is believed to have originated as a place name, referring to a house or dwelling on a ridge. The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the 12th century in Scotland.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Sir Maurice Buchanan was a prominent Scottish knight who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence against the English. He was a supporter of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.

Another notable bearer of the name was George Buchanan, a 16th-century Scottish humanist scholar, historian, and poet. He was a prominent figure in the Scottish Renaissance and served as a tutor to King James VI of Scotland, who later became King James I of England.

In the 17th century, James Buchanan was a Scottish historian and writer, best known for his work "De Jure Regni apud Scotos" (The Law of Kingship in Scotland), which argued for limited monarchy and the right of the people to resist tyrannical rulers.

In the 19th century, James Buchanan served as the 15th President of the United States from 1857 to 1861. He was born in 1791 in Pennsylvania and was the last president born in the 18th century. His presidency was overshadowed by the growing tensions that ultimately led to the American Civil War.

Another notable figure with the name Buchanan was Robert Buchanan, a Scottish novelist, poet, and dramatist born in 1841. He was a close friend of Charles Dickens and wrote several popular works of fiction and poetry during the Victorian era.

While the name Buchanan has Scottish origins, it has been adopted and used in various parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries with Scottish or British influences. However, its historical roots and earliest recorded uses can be traced back to Scotland, where it was likely derived from a place name describing a dwelling on a ridge.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Buchanan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Buchanan, please contact us.

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