Buchanan

Buchanan is a surname of Scottish origin and also a placename used in several countries. It derives from the parish of Buchanan in Stirlingshire, Scotland, and spread through Scottish migration to Ireland, the rest of Britain, and the Americas. The name is common in the English-speaking world and has produced various spellings and pronunciations over time.

Notable people with the name include James Buchanan (1791–1868), the 15th president of the United States, who served from 1857 to 1861. James Buchanan Duke (1856–1925) was an American industrialist who funded the founding of Duke University. The Buchanan surname appears across politics, business, academia, and the arts.

Places named Buchanan include Buchanan, Michigan; Buchanan, Virginia; and Buchanan County in Iowa, Missouri, and Virginia. Liberia also has a prominent port town named Buchanan, the capital of Grand Bassa County. The name is used for various administrative regions and settlements in North America and Africa, reflecting its colonial-era and immigrant-era heritage.

In summary, Buchanan denotes a Scottish-origin surname tied to a specific Scottish parish and a toponym found in multiple countries, with localities and notable figures bearing the name across history.