November 18, 2009
Ballantyne is not a very common surname. Throughout life one can meet many a Smith, Jones, or Davis. However, the odds are that you will meet either very few or no Ballantynes.
So, what is the meaning of this relatively uncommon surname? Most etymological dictionaries that I perused did not cover the name "Ballantyne." By the way, etymological simply means the root, or origin of a word.
At last I found a record of the surname "Ballantyne" in an old book entitled An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names by a man named William Arthur. Apparently, "Ballantyne" is derived from an ancient geographical location in Scotland! The official definition is as follows:
Ballantyne: Local. A place of ancient pagan worship among the Celts, whose principal deity was Belen or Baal, the sun. To the honor of this deity, the Celts lighted fires on the 1st of May and Midsummer day.
Thankfully though, the story does not end here. God granted mercy and grace to these wicked pagans, bringing reformation, mercy and grace to these wicked pagans, bringing reformation to the family name.
Celts
In case you don't know much about the Celts, I'd like to give a little background on their origins and practices.
The Celts, which, by the way, is pronounced kelts, are a very ancient people group who spread across Europe. One group from Northern Italy actually defeated Roman legions, laid siege to Rome itself, and gained a heavy tribute in return for a cessation of hostilities against their Roman enemies.
Scotland and Ireland were inhabited by these extremely pagan barbarians, and, as mentioned in the definition, worshipped Baal, the sun. Christianity was brought to them from Ireland by the famous St. Columba, who settled on the island of Iona and preached the gospel.
Scottish Covenanters
In the 1600's, the Scottish Covenanters, descendants of those converted by the influence of Columba, were persecuted in a horrible era called the "Killing Times." These men and women were strong in the faith, and not at all like their pagan ancestors. They were unwilling to obey the unbiblical mandates of the King of England, and for this they were hunted, tortured, and executed.
Hunted and Harried
R. M. Ballantyne was directly descended from the Covenanters, and wrote Hunted and Harried which is a tale of these courageous ancestors. The book details the horrors to which the faithful Scots were exposed, and their firmness and resolution in the face of persecution. One of the few historical novels which Ballantyne wrote, he obviously thought it necessary to honor the heritage and bless the memory of these now-departed heroes.
RMB's first and middle names also have an interesting meaning. Robert, his first name, means "bright fame." I doubt that his parents could have guessed just how famous their son would become. His middle name, Michael, is taken from the Bible and means "Who is like the Lord?" A fitting name indeed for a famous Christian.
In my opinion, Robert Michael Ballantyne helped to redeem the connotation of his last name. The surname "Ballantyne" is no longer associated with pagan sacrifices. Instead, it is associated with a man who was a firm believer in the one true God, a man who earnestly desired to bring others to the knowledge of his God, and a man who spared no effort through his books in praising and proclaiming the true rule of our God.
Tutela ex Vulnero,
John
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