Surname Marjoribanks - Meaning and Origin
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Marjoribanks: What does the surname Marjoribanks mean?
The surname Marjoribanks is derived from an ancient Scottish baronetcy named Majoribanks and is a patronymic name related to the name Major. The name is believed to originate from a nickname or a personal name referring to a person who was noted for their “major” beliefs, major behaviour, or was a leader of some kind. The word “major” derives from the Latin maior meaning “greater” or “greater one”, and is also connected to the Latin maius meaning “greater or major one”.
Marjoribanks is a common Scottish surname found mainly in the Scottish Lowlands. The earliest recorded instances of the name date all the way back to 14th century in the Barony of Coldingham in the Berwickshire Lowlands. The original Baron of Coldingham was Sir Archibald de Marjoribanks, the first recorded Marjoribanks of note.
In the 19th century, several notable Marjoribanks families emigrated from Scotland and the surname is now found all over the world, with numerous notable figures including Bankers, Politicians, Scientists, Businessmen and Authors bearing the name.
Marjoribanks is a proud and ancient surname evoking the rich and storied history of Scotland, and those bearing the name are likely proud to bear the history and legacy of their noble ancestry.
Order DNA origin analysisMarjoribanks: Where does the name Marjoribanks come from?
The last name Marjoribanks is a toponymic surname from Scotland, derived from the Barony of Marjoribanks in the historic county of Berwickshire. It is especially common in Scotland, where there are more than 2,000 people with the surname, particularly in the Borders region and the southern coastal towns. The name is also quite popular in England, where it has been recorded in some numbers since the 16th century. It is especially common in London and the surrounding areas, including Kent, Hampshire, Surrey, Essex, and Hertfordshire. Outside of the British Isles, the last name Marjoribanks can be found in a number of countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. In all of these countries, the population of people with the surname Marjoribanks is relatively small but the name can still be found in some numbers.
Variations of the surname Marjoribanks
Marjoribanks is a surname of Scottish origins that dates back to the early 13th century. It is derived from the French venacular word 'margarit', meaning pearl. It is also derived from the Latin word Marmor meaning marble, and refers to the Marjoribanks' ancestral castle at Thirlestane in the Scottish Borders.
The surname is variously spelt Marjoribanks, Marjoribank, Marjoribankes, Marjoriebank, Marjoriebanks, Margorybanks, Marjoriebanke and Marjorybank.
The most common variants of the surname Marjoribanks are Marjoriebanks and Marjoribankes. Historically, the Marjoribanks family were located in Scotland, where they held estates and titles such as baronets.
The clan motto, in Latin, translates as 'as God wills'. The family has also produced a number of notable figures in the fields of politics, finance, and science.
Other surnames of similar origin include Moraybanks, Marjoriebanks, Marjoribetter, Marjoriefield, Marjoriehall, and Marjoriehawke.
To sum up, Marjoribanks is a Scottish surname derived from the French word 'margarit' meaning pearl. It is variously spelt in different variants, the most common being Marjoriebanks and Marjoribankes. This surname is of notable antiquity, with the Marjoriebanks family holding titles and estates in Scotland since the early 13th century. Other surnames of similar origin include Moraybanks, Marjoriebanks, Marjoribetter, Marjoriefield, Marjoriehall, and Marjoriehawke.
Famous people with the name Marjoribanks
- Matthew Marjoribanks: Canadian entrepreneur, co-founder and CEO of Wonderschool
- John Dickson Marjoribanks: Scottish-British Conservative politician
- Edwin Marjoribanks: Scottish-UK Liberal politician
- Sir Herbert Maxwell Marjoribanks, 4th Baronet: British soldier and Conservative politician
- Thomas Marjoribanks: Canadian Rural and Suburban Affairs Minister
- James Marjoribanks: British architect
- Symon Marjoribanks: Scottish orientalist
- Jane Marjoribanks: Scottish socialite
- Wally Marjoribanks: Lawyer, technological integration specialist, and former head of IT at the German Bundestag
- Robert Marjoribanks: British business executive and former chairman of British Satellite Broadcasting