Offic. 'the bannerman,' the ensign bearer. Though this name, being Scotch, has no place of right in this dictionary, it is interesting as being the equivalent of Penniger, which see, also v. Mr. Lower's article in Patronymic Britannia

This surname is popularly believed to have been assumed by an ancestor who held the office of standard-bearer to one of the early kings, but I know of no evidence in support of the belief unless it be the romantle story told by Boece of an unnamed standard-bearer of Malcolm Ceannmor or of Alexander I. In the 11th chapter of book XII (in Bellenden's translation) Boece tells us that at a battle on the Spey the banner-man of Malcolm being somewhat of a coward, "trimbland and not passand so pertlie forwart" as the king desired, had the royal banner taken from him and given to Sir Alexander Carron afterwards called Skrymgeotir. In the 15th chapter he dates the event in the reign of "Alexander the Feirs." The first authentic reference to the family is in a charter by David II (1368) granting to Dovinaldus Banerman, the kind's physician, the lands of the two Clynteys or Clyntreys (Clinterty), and the two Achrinys (now an obsolete place name), namely Watirton and Welton near Aberdeen (RMS., I, 283). In 1373 Alexander Bannerman, son of quondam Donald Bannerman, had a charter "totius terre de Slaty" (REA., I, p. 116), in 1382 was alderman of Aberdeen, and in 1387 he acquired the lands of Elsick from Sir Alexander Fraser of Philorth. He is probably the Alexander Banerman who appears in 1391 as procurator for Adam de Ledhovs, burgess of Aberdeen (RAA., II, p. 40), as a witness in 1396 (REA., II, p. 294) and common councillor of Aberdeen in 1398 (CRA., p. 374). John Banerman was admitted burgess of Aberdeen in 1400 (NSCM., I, p. 1), another John Banarman was a burgess of Berwick in 1467 (RD., 461), Alexander Bannerman of Watertoun was sheriff-depute of Aberdeen from 1498 to 1511 (RSCA., I, p. 440), and Patrick Bannerman was elected provost of Aberdeen in 1715 (CRA., p. 353). Elsick passed out of possession of the family in 1756. Banermain 1548, Bannermane 1665, Bennerman 1663.

(Anglo-French-Teut.) Standard- Bearer. [Middle English banere + man; Old French ban(i)ere; from ult. L. Latin bann- um, a banner; of Teutonic origin] Sir James Scrimgeor of Duddap, Knicht, Grit constabill of fair Dundé, Unto the dulefull deith was dicht; The Kingis cheif banner-man was he.

—The Battle of Harlaw, 209-12.

Assumed because of the family being hereditary standard bearers to the king; they bear in their arms a banner displayed argent, on a canton azure, St. Andrew's cross.

A name of office in Scotland borne by the king's standard—bearer.

BANNERMAN: As early as the days of Malcolm IV. and William the Lion, the office of king's standard-bearer was hereditary in Scotland, and gave name to the family. The armorial coat refers to the name and office, being "a banner displayed arg.; on a canton azure, St. Andrew's Cross."

From the Dutch, Bonnerman; a personal name.