Surname Buchannan - Meaning and Origin

Buchannan: What does the surname Buchannan mean?

The surname Buchanan originates from Scotland and derives from two Gaelic words: "buth" meaning house, and "chanain" meaning of the canon. The name was initially given to those who lived in the Buchanan area near Loch Lomond in Scotland, and it was originally bestowed upon the children of clergymen. Over time, it evolved into a family name. The Buchanan clan was one of the most powerful Scottish clans and played a significant role in the history of Scotland. The name signifies one's connection to this prominent clan and their shared heritage and history. It is also used widely outside of Scotland due to the diaspora of the Scottish people.

Buchannan: Where does the name Buchannan come from?

The surname Buchannan originally comes from Scotland and it derives from the region of Buchanan in Stirlingshire. The region got its name from the Gaelic word "buth chanain," meaning "house of the canon." Hence, it is assumed that the first individual to bear this name may have lived or worked at such a place. The name has many variations, including Buchanan, Buchannan, Buchannon, and others.

Despite its Scottish origin, the surname is now common in multiple countries due to diaspora. Globally, it ranks highest in Northern Ireland, followed by Scotland and then Jamaica. In the United States, it's particularly frequent in West Virginia, Ohio, and Missouri.

Today, the surname Buchannan, like many other Scottish names, is known and spread across the globe, largely due to historical Scottish emigration during the Highland Clearances in the 18th and 19th centuries, when many Scottish people emigrated to countries like America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand due to dire economic conditions at home.

Variations of the surname Buchannan

The surname Buchannan predominantly originates from Scotland. While "Buchannan" is the most common spelling in the United States, the name is traditionally spelled "Buchanan" in Scotland and elsewhere. This surname hailed from an ancient Scottish clan known as Clan Buchanan from the area of Loch Lomond.

Other less common variants of the surname include Buchanon, Bucanan, Bucchanan, Buchana, and Buchannen. This name has various spellings due to the phonetic interpretations of Gaelic scripts, historic misspellings, and anglicanization over centuries.

It's also important to note that the nickname forms "Bucky" or "Buck" are occasionally used, and derivatives based on familial connections might include substrings like "Buchan", "Chanan" or "Cannon".

The surnames "Cannon" and "McCannon" can also be considered as they might have been derived from the Gaelic version of Buchanan, "Mac a' Chanonaich", which means "son of the cannon".

While these variations are not as common, it showcases the wide speller variation of such surnames, and how they are shaped by local language, dialect, and societal changes.

Famous people with the name Buchannan

• Pat Buchannan: A prominent American political commentator, author, public speaker, and former politician. He was senior advisor to presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan.
• Neil Buchanan: An English television presenter who was known for his long-running show for children, "Art Attack", and had appeared in various other children's television programs.
• Edgar Buchanan: This well-known character actor was most famous for his role as Uncle Joe Carson in the sitcoms "The Beverly Hillbillies", "Green Acres", and "Petticoat Junction".
• James Buchanan: He was the 15th President of the United States from 1857 to 1861, serving directly prior to the American Civil War.
• Mabel Buchanan: An American actress and model known for her appearances in the film "Oasis of the Zombies" and in "Lady of the Forest".
• Robert Williams Buchanan: A versatile and prolific writer with extensive work in poetry, prose, and drama. Unfortunately, there are no further notable people named Buchannan that can be mentioned within the 200 words limit.

Other surnames

Buchannon