Contents [hide]

Linn History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Linn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Ireland
Scotland

Early Origins of the Linn family

The surname Linn was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire.

The name Lynne originally meaning "a waterfall," is first noted in the area of Dalry in the years 1200-1300. They were located here and had land and owned the Castle of Lin near the waterfall of the Calf.

"The family of Lin or Lynn of that Ilk in the parish of Dairy, Ayrshire, took their name from the cascade on the Water of Caaf, near which stood the ancient castle of Lin." 1

Black also notes another possible origin of the family. "From the old manor of the same name in Peeblesshire. David de Lyne son of Robert de Lyne, granted to Neubode 'totam peteram de locqueruard que vocatur Wluesstrother,' c. 1165-1214, a grant increased by his son Robert within the same period." 1

The barony of Lynn was created from lands granted by Hugh de Morville in 1204. Later, John de la Linde was Warden of the City of London in 1265. Walter de Lynne was listed on the Ragman Rolls of 1296.

Early History of the Linn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Linn research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1263, 1296, 1452, 1579, 1626, 1636 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Linn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Linn Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Lind, Lynd, Lynde, Lynn, Line, Lines and others.

Early Notables of the Linn family

Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Linn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Linn Ranking

In the United States, the name Linn is the 2,283^rd most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Linn family to Ireland

Some of the Linn family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 73 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Linn migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Linn Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Joseph Linn, who arrived in Maryland in 1680 3

Linn Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Peter Linn, who arrived in America in 1739 3
Adam Linn, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 3
Johann Nickel Linn, who arrived in America in 1753 3
Philip Henry Linn, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 3
Nicholas Linn, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Linn Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

David Linn, who arrived in America in 1811 3
Daniel Linn, who landed in New York, NY in 1815 3
Robert Linn, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1818 3
John Linn, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1830 3
Andley Linn, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1840 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Linn Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

John Edward Linn, who landed in Mississippi in 1903 3

Linn migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Linn Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Masters Linn, (b. 1787), aged 29, English brick layer who was convicted in Sussex, England for life for larceny, transported aboard the "Fame" on 9th October 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1827 4
Matthew Linn, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Asia" in 1839 5
Margaret Linn, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Asia" in 1839 5
Christian Linn, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Asia" in 1839 5
James Linn, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Asia" in 1839 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Linn migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Linn Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Jane Linn, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "British Queen" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 30th August 1859 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Linn (post 1700) +

Roger Linn, American inventor of the Linn LM-1, the first programmable digital drum machine, recipient of a Grammy Award for Lifetime Technical Achievement
Michael Linn, American businessman and oilman, founder of Linn Energy, LLC an independent oil and natural gas company based in Houston, Texas in 2003
Richard Linn (b. 1944), American Senior United States Circuit Judge, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (1999-2012)
Ray Linn (1920-1996), American jazz trumpeter
Rex Maynard Linn (b. 1956), American film and television actor, best known for his role as Frank Tripp in the television series CSI: Miami
Robert P. Linn (1908-2004), American politician, second longest-serving mayor in the United States-58 years
Lewis Fields Linn (1796-1843), American Democratic U.S. Senator for the state of Missouri, eponym of Mount Linn, California
John Blair Linn (1777-1804), American poet
Bambi Linn (b. 1926), born Bambina Linnemeier, American dancer, choreographer, and actress
Holman Harry Linn, American inventor of the Linn tractor, a heavy duty civilian half-track or crawler tractor
... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Linn Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Semper virescit virtus
Motto Translation: Virtue always flourishes.

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
State Library of South Australia. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) ASIA 1839 from London with Captain Benjamin Freeman and 245 passengers, arrived Port Adelaide on 16-07-1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Asia-list.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html