Bann

This interesting name is of English origin and is a dialectal variant of the name Bayne. The first from the Gaelic "ban" meaning "fari" or "white" as in Ewin Bayne alias Quhyte recorded in Perth, Scotland in 1623. Secondly from the Olde English "ban" meaning "bone", which later became "bon" and survives as a nickname "Bones" in the Midlands and Southern England and thirdly from the Olde French "bain", bath, which possibly denotes occupation as an attendant at the public baths. It is also possibly a locational name from France a village near Bayeux in Normandy. One John Bain, the infant son of Edward and Mary Bain was christened on September 6th 1699 at St. Giles, Cripplegate, London. One John Bann married Mary Pearse, on August 11th 1692 in London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Baines, which was dated 1246, The Lancashire Assize Court, during the reign of King Henry III, "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.