Surname Buchan - Meaning and Origin
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Buchan: What does the surname Buchan mean?
The last name Buchan is derived from the town of Buchan, located in the northeast of Scotland. The origin is believed to stem from the Norse for “dweller at the bottom of the hill”.
The Buchan area was once the center of lurid medieval tales of Norse raiders and sea monsters. Legend has it that the last battle between the Norse and the Scots took place at Buchan, giving it a rich folklore in Scotland’s history.
Today, the last name Buchan is found in Scotland, England, and other parts of the British Isles. It is also quite common in the United States with immigrants who have relocated there from Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The Buchan name is a phenomenon of Scottish culture and fascinating to family researchers because of its longevity. Its popularity lies in its French origin and its link to the local history and culture of Scotland. Some of the families with the Buchan name carry a coat of arms, which indicates that these families have been living in Scotland for many generations.
The name Buchan is known for strong familial relationships and loyalty. It is also a symbol of courage and strength, echoed by the Viking history of Buchan and the courage of the people who choose to bear the name.
Order DNA origin analysisBuchan: Where does the name Buchan come from?
The last name Buchan is most common in Scotland, where it is ranked 144th in terms of popularity. Buchan is derived from the ancient region of Buchan, which is situated in the east of modern-day Scotland. The origin of the name itself is unclear, though it is believed to be the gaelic for 'cow-country'.
The name is found throughout Scotland, especially in the northeast where the Clan Buchan is most prevalent. Records indicate that the first documented use of the name was in 1296, where a castle in Buchan was granted to William le Buchan.
The name is also found elsewhere in Europe, particularly in Germany and Denmark. Buchan is the 122nd most common name in Germany, while it is the 210th most common name in Denmark. There is also a smaller concentration of people with the name Buchan in Canada and the United States.
To sum up, it can be said that the surname Buchan is most commonly found today in Scotland, with smaller concentrations found in Germany, Denmark, Canada, and the United States.
Variations of the surname Buchan
The surname Buchan is most often associated with Scotland, though it is found in many other places around the world. It is an anglicized form of either the Highland Scottish Gaelic Dubhshlaine, which translates as ‘with dark curls’ or the Northern Isles’ Old Norse Búi, meaning ‘dweller at the farm’.
The most commonly used variant spellings of Buchan include Bouchane, Bouchain, Bouchan, Bouchanne, Baskin, Bushane, Boushane, Bochen, Bochene, Bochanne, and Bouchenne.
Surnames with similar spellings and meaning, and hence probably of the same origin, include Buchannan, Buchanan, Buchen, Bukemper, Bukemper, Bulchim, Buchim, Buchener, Buckhannon, Bucham, Burkham, Bouchat, Boche, Boesch, Bosco, and Bultman.
In addition, some of the surnames in other languages which correspond to Buchan include the French Bouchat, the German Bösch and Böschlin, the Dutch Boessen, and the Slovenian Bucman.
All of these surnames are related and possess the same meaning of ‘from the dark woods’ or ‘resident of the farm’. The varying spellings reflect the diverse evolution of languages over time, and show how the surname has spread across various nations and been adopted by different groups.
Famous people with the name Buchan
- John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir: Scottish novelist, Unionist politician, and British colonial administrator.
- Anne Buchan: Scottish literary editor.
- Regina Buchan: Scottish folk singer.
- William Buchan: Scottish physician and author.
- Alexander Buchan: Scottish meteorologist.
- Alexander Buchan: German-born British politician.
- Andrew Buchan: English actor.
- Susan Buchan: Baroness of Blackwood, British businesswoman, life peer and political adviser.
- Campbell Buchan: Scottish footballer and coach.
- Douglas Buchan: American journalist.
- Drury Buchan: Scottish-born Australian politician.
- Francis Buchan: British publisher and art dealer.
- James Buchan: Scottish journalist, novelist and biographer.
- James W. Buchan: British writer and travel writer.
- John Buchan, Glasgow MP: British Member of Parliament (MP) for the Glasgow Central constituency.
- Kenneth Scofield Buchan: American-born British electrical engineering professor.
- Michael Buchan: British artist and sculptor.
- Michael Buchan: Scottish actor, director, writer.
- Ronald Buchan: Irish-born journalist and politician.
- Sarah Buchan: British film and television actress.