Bohannon
An Anglicized Irish surname, usually treated as a variant of Buchanan or Bohanan-style forms.
The #3,677 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 31,951 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Bohannon is generally regarded as an anglicized spelling in the same family as Bohanan and Buchanan, though the exact path is not fully certain from the historical record. The name is usually linked to a Gaelic surname that was adapted into English spelling over time, with sound changes producing forms like Bohannon, Bohanan, and Buchanan. Because the surviving evidence is mixed and the spelling was fluid, the literal root meaning is best treated cautiously rather than fixed with certainty.
History
The historical sources provided place Bohannon alongside Bohanan and Buchanan-like forms, suggesting a shared or closely related surname tradition. In North American usage, Bohannon became established as a distinct spelling, especially in families whose name was standardized after migration. The surname is relatively uncommon but well represented in the United States today.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The spelling has long been unstable: historical references often list Bohannon right next to Bohanan, Bohannan, and Buchanan, showing how easily the name shifted on the page.
From the historical record
“Bohanan. Bohanna. Bohannon. 233. Bohunnan, Buchanen. Buchannan.”
— Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland