Banda
A surname that may come from a word for a band, ribbon, strip, or banner, though its exact origin is often uncertain and can be regional.
The #2,409 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 20,508 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The name may be connected to a common Romance word meaning a band, strip, ribbon, or sash, from Latin-based roots. In older Spanish usage, the same word could also refer to a banner or insignia, which makes it a plausible source for a nickname or descriptive surname. Because the surname appears in several language areas, some examples may also reflect independent local origins rather than one single family line.
History
The excerpts provided do not give a full dictionary entry for BANDA, but they do show the word used in Spanish in the senses of ribbon, band, and banner. That makes it likely that at least some surname bearers inherited the name as a descriptive or occupational-style surname tied to an object, badge, or distinguishing band of cloth. The surname is also found in a number of countries, so some modern families may have separate origins in different regions.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because 'banda' can mean both a strip of cloth and a banner or insignia, the surname has a built-in double meaning in several Romance languages.
From the historical record
“Bambas, Chiripa. Anticuado, columpio, Banda. Distintivo que usan los grandes cruces de algun órden. Una pieza del blazon. | Bandera. Insignia o señal que consta de un , grande lienzo, etc.”
— Diccionario de los apellidos