Find out how popular the last name Banner is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Banner.

Banner, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Banner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Banner in America

Banner is the 5990th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Banner surname appeared 5,739 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Banner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Banner to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Banner

The surname Banner is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "banere" or "baniere," which means "banner" or "flag." This name likely originated as an occupational surname for a banner bearer, who carried the flag or standard in military processions or battles.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Banner date back to the late 12th century in England. One of the earliest known bearers of this name was William le Banere, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1191.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Baner, Banere, and Banyer. During this period, the surname was often associated with individuals who held the position of a banner bearer or ensign in the military or local militia.

The Hundred Rolls of 1273 record a Nicholas le Banere in Oxfordshire, and the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327 mention a John le Baner. These early records shed light on the geographic distribution of the name across different regions of England.

One notable individual bearing the surname Banner was Sir John Banner, a Scottish knight who fought alongside William Wallace in the Wars of Scottish Independence in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. He was captured at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298 and later executed.

Another prominent figure with this surname was Michael Banner, an English theologian and philosopher who lived from 1925 to 1986. He was a prominent figure in the Church of England and served as the Bishop of Doncaster from 1978 until his death.

In the 16th century, the surname Banner was sometimes associated with place names, such as Bannerdown in Somerset and Bannerleigh in Devon. These locations likely derived their names from individuals bearing the Banner surname who owned or resided in those areas.

Other notable individuals with the surname Banner include John Banner (1910-1973), an Austrian-American actor best known for his role as Master Sergeant Schultz in the television series "Hogan's Heroes," and Anthony Banner (1925-2021), a British author and academic who specialized in the history of philosophy.

The surname Banner has a rich history, originating from an occupational role in medieval England and evolving over time to become a widespread surname across various regions and social strata. Its origins can be traced back to the Old French word for "banner," reflecting the importance of banners and standards in military and civic traditions of the time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Banner

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Banner.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Banner was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Banner has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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