Show ContentsKin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Kin family

The surname Kin was first found in Lincolnshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the year 1260 when Pestell Kin held estates in that shire.

Early History of the Kin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kin research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1268, 1271, 1329, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Kin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kin Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Kin include Kin, Kinn, Kine, Kins, Kinne, Kyne, Cyne, Kyn and others.

Early Notables of the Kin family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • the Kin family of Lincolnshire


United States Kin migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Kin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jacob Kin, aged 21, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1741 1
  • Peter Kin, aged 18, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1741 1
  • Elisabeth Kin, who arrived in America in 1763
Kin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Maria Kin, who settled in Philadelphia in 1816
  • C. Kin, who settled in San Francisco in 1852


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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