NameCensus.

UK surname

Banner

An occupational surname referring to a flag bearer or maker of banners and flags.

In the 1881 census there were 1,634 people recorded with the Banner surname, ranking it #2,619 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,480, ranked #2,661, down from #2,619 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Leigh and Bromsgrove, Upton Warren. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bromsgrove and Pembrokeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Banner is 2,619 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.8%.

1881 census count

1,634

Ranked #2,619

Modern count

2,480

2016, ranked #2,661

Peak year

1999

2,619 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Banner had 1,634 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,619 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,480 in 2016, ranked #2,661.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,336 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Banner surname distribution map

The map shows where the Banner surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Banner surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Banner over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 924 #2,989
1861 historical 1,004 #2,779
1881 historical 1,634 #2,619
1891 historical 1,657 #2,704
1901 historical 2,101 #2,556
1911 historical 2,336 #2,184
1997 modern 2,465 #2,545
1998 modern 2,585 #2,528
1999 modern 2,619 #2,515
2000 modern 2,554 #2,567
2001 modern 2,505 #2,560
2002 modern 2,506 #2,608
2003 modern 2,479 #2,585
2004 modern 2,442 #2,621
2005 modern 2,406 #2,625
2006 modern 2,395 #2,635
2007 modern 2,364 #2,689
2008 modern 2,382 #2,689
2009 modern 2,457 #2,683
2010 modern 2,507 #2,690
2011 modern 2,509 #2,666
2012 modern 2,432 #2,683
2013 modern 2,474 #2,692
2014 modern 2,500 #2,679
2015 modern 2,499 #2,655
2016 modern 2,480 #2,661

Geography

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Where Banners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Leigh, Bromsgrove, Upton Warren, Birmingham Town: Aston and West Ham,Wanstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bromsgrove and Pembrokeshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 Leigh Worcestershire
3 Bromsgrove, Upton Warren Worcestershire
4 Birmingham Town: Aston Warwickshire
5 West Ham,Wanstead Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bromsgrove 013 Bromsgrove
2 Pembrokeshire 008 Pembrokeshire
3 Bromsgrove 010 Bromsgrove
4 Bromsgrove 011 Bromsgrove
5 Bromsgrove 008 Bromsgrove

Forenames

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First names often paired with Banner

These lists show first names that appear often with the Banner surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Banner

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Banner, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Banner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Banner household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Banner is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Banner is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Banner falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Banner is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Banner, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of 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.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Banner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Banner surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Worcestershire leads with 363 Banners recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.43x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 363 17.43x
Lancashire 188 0.99x
Staffordshire 158 2.93x
Warwickshire 111 2.76x
Nottinghamshire 108 5.02x
Yorkshire 101 0.64x
Cheshire 98 2.78x
Middlesex 90 0.56x
Pembrokeshire 86 16.97x
Derbyshire 54 2.16x
Durham 35 0.74x
Midlothian 34 1.59x
Essex 28 0.89x
Glamorgan 28 1.01x
Lanarkshire 26 0.50x
Kent 20 0.37x
Gloucestershire 17 0.54x
Norfolk 13 0.53x
Leicestershire 10 0.57x
Surrey 10 0.13x
Sussex 7 0.26x
Devon 6 0.18x
Angus 5 0.34x
Cumberland 5 0.36x
Roxburghshire 5 1.73x
Berkshire 3 0.25x
Hampshire 3 0.09x
Northumberland 3 0.13x
Somerset 3 0.12x
Stirlingshire 3 0.51x
Channel Islands 2 0.42x
Hertfordshire 2 0.18x
Lincolnshire 2 0.08x
Oxfordshire 2 0.20x
Shropshire 2 0.15x
Ayrshire 1 0.08x
Herefordshire 1 0.15x
Northamptonshire 1 0.07x
Perthshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bromsgrove in Worcestershire leads with 193 Banners recorded in 1881 and an index of 275.32x.

Place Total Index
Bromsgrove 193 275.32x
Greasley 62 127.84x
West Bromwich 52 16.87x
Aston 45 4.06x
Leigh 38 150.32x
Warrington 34 15.15x
Birmingham 31 2.31x
Runcorn 31 38.19x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 29 19.70x
Northfield 29 73.38x
Liverpool 23 2.00x
Sutton In Ashfield 20 42.87x
Harborne 19 11.01x
West Derby 19 3.43x
Coundon 17 88.40x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 17 1.98x
Huyton With Roby 16 72.14x
Toxteth Park 16 2.50x
West Ham 16 2.30x
Wolverhampton 16 3.87x
Wednesbury 15 11.15x
Hoyland Nether 14 36.12x
Govan 13 1.02x
Macclesfield 13 8.31x
Radford 13 11.90x
Castle Acre 12 164.61x
Edgbaston 12 9.62x
Hackforth 12 1379.31x
Hubberston 12 161.29x
Everton 11 1.82x
Forest Gate 11 252.29x
Shoreditch London 11 1.59x
Staveley 11 24.81x
Great Crosby 10 19.38x
Cheltenham 9 3.73x
Cradley 9 47.77x
Edinburgh New 9 54.22x
Islington London 9 0.58x
Middleton Tyas 9 299.00x
Tipton 9 5.46x
Worcester St John 9 36.19x
Belbroughton 8 74.07x
Belgrave 8 20.05x
Birkenhead 8 2.85x
Claylane 8 23.05x
Gradley 8 79.52x
Hackney London 8 0.89x
Hampstead London 8 3.22x
Leamington Priors 8 8.08x
Liscard 8 12.61x
Monckton 8 88.40x
Pendleton In Salford 8 3.55x
Bishopwearmouth 7 1.72x
Blackburn 7 1.39x
Bradfield 7 11.49x
Chester St Oswald 7 10.98x
Cropthorne 7 181.82x
Fishguard 7 63.75x
Ilkeston 7 10.00x
Isleworth 7 9.87x
Llandaff 7 7.58x
New Monkland 7 4.59x
Pembroke St Mary 7 10.72x
Rowley Regis 7 4.67x
Yarm 7 86.31x
Amblecote 6 39.09x
Belper 6 12.39x
Brighton 6 1.11x
Bromley London 6 1.71x
Coston Hackett 6 582.52x
Edinburgh Tolbooth 6 48.23x
Freystrop 6 288.46x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 2.92x
Kidderminster Borough 6 4.92x
Layton With Warbreck 6 8.64x
Llangwm 6 125.79x
St Davids 6 52.31x
Wavertree 6 9.90x
Worcester St Nicholas 6 60.79x
Yardley 6 11.26x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Banner surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 109
Sarah 65
Elizabeth 59
Ann 32
Jane 30
Emily 29
Ellen 25
Emma 25
Eliza 24
Alice 23
Martha 22
Annie 17
Hannah 17
Harriet 17
Margaret 13
Florence 12
Louisa 12
Anne 9
Clara 9
Fanny 9
Agnes 7
Lucy 7
Maria 7
Susan 7
Ada 6
Frances 6
Kate 6
Caroline 5
Charlotte 5
Edith 5
Ethel 5
Harriett 5
Amy 4
Esther 4
Margt. 4
Maud 4
Minnie 4
Rose 4
Elisabeth 3
Elizth. 3
Isabella 3
Lilian 3
Lizzie 3
Lydia 3
Matilda 3
Selina 3
Cicely 2
Constance 2
Dinah 2
Lettice 2

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Banner surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

FAQ

Banner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Banner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,634 people were recorded with the Banner surname. That placed it at #2,619 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Banner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,480 in 2016. That gives Banner a modern rank of #2,661.

What does the Banner surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a flag bearer or maker of banners and flags.

What does the Banner map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Banner bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.