Bonnar Clan

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: Bonnar Scottish_Clans

Welcome to Bonnar Clan

Bonnar Clan Team
Team Leader	Scottish Families Team
Team Members	Sandy Patak

This page is part of the Scottish Families Team

For Profiles in this Clan, visit Category:Clan Bonner

Clan Members

The goal of this project is to ... offer a focal point for all members interested in the Lairds and Chiefs of Clan Bonnar together with members bearing the name Bonnar, the related families and those recognised as septs of Clan Bonnar.

Here are some of the tasks that I think need to be done. I'll be working on them, and could use your help.

• promoting the entries of those bearing the name Bonnar on Wikitree.
• ensuring entries appearing on Wikitree are as accurate as possible, correcting mistakes once spotted.
• encouraging interest in and study of Clan Bonnar.

Will you join me? Please post a comment here on this page, in G2G using the project tag, or send me a private message. Thanks!

Bonnar History

The Bonner/Bonar Clan is a smaller clan and as such does not have a Chief. They are considered a Sept of Clan Graham. Although, they maintained some independence, it was more advantageous of Clan Bonner/Bonar to join with the much larger and powerful Clan Graham for protection. Clan Bonner/Bonar did not become fully absorbed into Clan Graham and to this day still maintains a separate tartan.

Clan Bonner

Bonner/Bonar Surname: The name BONNER was derived from the Old French 'bonair' a name given to one who was debonair, civil, gentle and courteous. The Bonner name arrived in England, Ireland and Scotland after the Norman Conquest in the 11th Century. [1]

Meaning 'gentle' (from the French) or `Bona res...' A good thing, this reputedly spoken by the King of France after a very un-gentle act of war on the part of Guilhen de Bonares as he was called thereafter. (Guilhen de Bonares is recorded in Perthshire c.1200) [2]

In Ireland, specifically Ulster, the Bonner name means "mid-wife".

Scottish Bonner's that immigrated to the United States left out of Glasgow to Ports of Philadelphia, New York and Maryland. [3]

Per the US 1920's Census, the majority of Bonner's were living in Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Pennsylvania and New York. [4]

Ancient Scottish Location - Stirling

Since Clan Graham was located in the present day Stirling District of Scotland, the Clan Bonner/Bonar was probably located in the same area. [5] Historically, Stirling was a strategically important location and known as the "Gateway to the Highlands" since it sat at the border of the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland. [6] Stirling is an ancient Stone Age settlement with Stirling Castle being one of the largest and most important castles in Scotland. [7]

Crest:

Motto: Semper Fidelis "Always Faithful"

Slogan:

Region:

District: Stirling

Plant badge: N/A

Pipe music: N/A

Gaelic name: O'Cnaimhsighe [8]

Shield: A shield divided quarterly red and black, with a cross pattée ermine and gold; on a gold chief, a red rose streaming rays, between two red.

Septs: Graham

Names associated with the clan: Bonner (England & Scotland), Bonnar (England & Scotland), Bonar (North Ulster), Bonere (French), Bonare (French)

Notables of the Bonner Name:

• Anthony Bonner, (1968-), Professional Basketball Player, NBA [9]
• James Frederick Bonner (1910-1996), American Biologist [10]
• Charles George Bonner, (1884-1951), Recipient of the Victoria Cross [11]
• William Bonar, 4th of Rossie, HRH Charles 15th Great Grandfather [12]

Further Reading

• The Bonner Family by Kathryn R. Bonner [13]
• The Bonner Family History by Sue Bonner Thornton [14]
• The Bonner Legacy by Lucy Nita Bonner Neblock [15]

Sources

Primary Source: http://www.4crests.com/bonner-coat-of-arms.html

See Also:

Bonar Name Study