This surname is derived from a nickname. 'good little pet,' a term of endearment for a little child, afterwards applied more generally. 'Bunting: a term of endearment' (Halliwell). 'Buntin, adj., short and thick, as "a buntin brat, a plump child," Roxb.' (Jamieson). The idea here is 'a good healthy child.' the Frenchbonnetin or bonneton, from bonne, good, with diminutive et- bonnet (v. Bonnet or Bunnett), and second diminutive in or on - bonn-ct-in, or bonn-et-on. This became 'buntin,' or with excrescent 'g' 'bunting' (compare Jenin and Jenning). Many old French names are double diminutives (compare Guillotin and Philiponet), and the practice was extended to England; compare Col-in-et, Dob-in-et, and Rob-in-et, where the same two dims, are reversed. These, being taken from Nicholas and Robert, are male names, however. In girls' names the order seems to have been reversed. Four women are mentioned in the Coventry Mysteries: 'Bontyng the Brewster, and Sybyly Megge Mery-wedyr and Sabyn Sprynge,' where Brewster preserves its feminine sense. Here Bonnetin has become Bonting. The name is curiously interesting as surviving in one of our favourite nursery rhymes, a strong proof of its antiquity: 'Baby, baby Bunting, Daddy's gone a hunting, Gone to get a rabbit skin To wrap his baby Bunting in.' Thus Bunn (which see), 'good,' is the first stage; Bonnet or Bunnett (which see), 'good little one.' the second; and Bunting, 'good little pet,' the third. All are well preserved in our directories.

Hugo Bonetun, Hertfordshire, 20 Edward I: Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III.

Alice Bunetun, Oxfordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Thomas Bunetun, Oxfordshire, ibid.

Hugh Bonting, Lincolnshire, ibid.

Henry Buntyng, Suffolk, ibid.

John Buntyng, Sussex, ibid.

1687. Married — Earnest Collman and Anna Maria Bonatine: St. Dionis Backchurch.

The suffix in or on is frequently found as -oun or -un in early registers. Both Alison and Beton (Alice and Beatrice) are met with as Alisoun and Alisun, and Betoun and Betun. Should Bunetun prove to be local, several of my instances must be withdrawn, but they will not affect the origin of Bunting.Stolen from Fore bears

Macfarlane (II, p. 278) describes Buntine of Arndoch as "a very Antient family in the county of Dumbarton where they Still Remain in Lustre," Most probably a branch of the English Buntings, found in several of the English counties in the thirteenth century. Roger Ortolanus (= Bunting, Latin) was one of an inquest made at Peebles, 1262 (APS., I, p. 101 red). Thomas Bunting one of an inquest at Traqueyr in 1274 (Bain, II, 34) may be Thomas Buntynge of Peeblesshire who rendered homage in 1296 (ibid., II, p. 207). Finlay Bunting had a charter of the lands of Mylnetelame in the barony of Cardross from Robert III (RMS., I, App. a, 1796). Robert and William Bontyne had remission for their share in burning the town of Dunbertane in 1489 (Lennox, II, p. 132), and Nicolas Buntyne witnessed sasine in favor of James, son of the earl of Lennox, 1490 (ibid., II, p. 140). John Buntyne of Ardoch was a follower of the earl of Argyll in 1536 (RSS., II, 2152) and cautioner for Walter Makfarlan in the same year (Trials, I, p. 178). John Bountene served on an assize in 1541 (ibid., I, p. 361), John Bunteyne was burgess of Glasgow, 1580 (Burgesses), John Buntene was retoured heir in lands of Ardoch-Buntein, etc., 1605 (Retours, Dumbarton, 8), William Buntein was burgess of Stirling, 1614 (Stirling), and Margaret Bonetoun is recorded in Quhytrig, parish of Morrounsyd (Muiravonside), 1618 (ibid.), Archibald Bontein was secretary to the "Bluidy Mackenzie." The form Bontein, as spelling of the family name, was adopted by Sir James Bontein in 1782. The Buntings of England, according to Kemble, were an old Anglo-Saxon clan. Buntene 1603, Buntin 1591, Buntyn 1513, Bwntene 1556, Bwnteyne 1563, Buntyng 1452, Bunton.

Probably local; buntin is however a Scottish word meaning short and thick, as "a buntin brat," a plump child. Jamieson. The Bunteins were of Ardoch in the middle ages. A Thomas Bunting swore allegiance to Edward I. of England, in 1296. Bunting without a prefix occurs in H.R.

A kind of bird.

The name of Bunting, which now has its home in the Ashbourn district in this county, is also established in Norfolk and Essex. In the 13th century this name occurred, usually as Bunting or Buntyng but sometimes as Buntig or Buntyg, in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, and Sussex (H. R.). It still remains in Norfolk, and occurs also in Essex.

Bunting or Buntyng was a common name among the Norfolk clergy in the 15th century; at that time, also, a family of the name lived at Framingham, near Norwich (Bl.). In the 13th century it was still represented in Norfolk (H. R.). The Bantings, according to Kemble, were an Anglo - Saxon clan. Further particulars concerning the past and present distribution of the name will be found under "Derbyshire".