Bannister Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Bannister last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Bannister last name
Meaning of the Bannister last name: basket maker / crossbowman. Bannister is an English surname with two main explanations: an occupational name for a basket maker, from Old French banastre, or a crossbowman, from arbalestier. It is strongest in Lancashire. Athlete Sir Roger Bannister, who ran the first four-minute mile in 1954, made the last name famous.
Arms associated with the Bannister name
Coats of arms associated with the Bannister last name belong to the English heraldic tradition, each with its own blazon.
Get your full Bannister family history
This is only a glimpse of the Bannister story. The full Bannister history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Bannister coat of arms. Get the full Bannister report.
Bannister name FAQ
What does the Bannister name mean?
Basket maker / crossbowman. Common variants include Banister, Banester.
Where does the Bannister surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Bannister coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Bannister coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).