Pinn History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe name Pinn is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived in the county of Devon and Cornwall. Pinn is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. In this case the original bearers of the surname Pinn were known as the dwellers by the pine trees. 1 Alternatively the name could have been "a nickname for a tall, upright man." 2 "Combepyne and Upton Pyne (Devon) were held in the 13th century by a family of de Pyn who may have come from Le Pin (Calvados) or some other French place named from a prominent pine." 2 Another source confirms the Devon branch and also postulates that the name was originally Norman: "Durand, William de Pinu, [were found in] Normandy 1180-95 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae). This family was long seated in Devon." 3 More digging about Upton Pyne found this entry: "Pynes, in Upton Pyne, the present seat of the Northcote family (who were at Northcote in East Downe as early as the year 1103), came to them by the marriage of Sir Henry Northcote, the fifth Baronet, with the heiress of Stafford." 4 Unfortunately for this source, Sir Henry Northcote, 5th Baronet (1710-1743) was a much later, so we must presume that the entry meant that the Pyne family were in "East Downe as early as the year 1103." Early Origins of the Pinn familyThe surname Pinn was first found in the 12th century where Bonde Pine was found in Northumberland, 1101-1107 and Robert Pine was listed in Shropshire in 1181. A few years later, Robert Pin was found in the Curia Regis Rolls for Northumberland in 1208 and William Pin was found in the Assize Rolls for Shropshire in 1221. Over in Sussex, Henry le Pyn was listed there in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1332. In Leicestershire, Morin de Pin was found in the Pipe Rolls of 1130 and in Devon, Alexander de Pinu was listed there in the Pipe Rolls of 1169. Thomas de Pyne was found in Somerset, according to the Assize Rolls of Somerset and later, John atte Pyne was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Cheshire in 1327. 2 Early History of the Pinn familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pinn research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1603, 1625, 1644, 1653, 1677, 1679, 1690, 1695, 1709, 1732 and 1756 are included under the topic Early Pinn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Pinn Spelling VariationsThe first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Pinn has been spelled many different ways, including Pyne, Pine and others. Early Notables of the Pinn familyNotables of the family at this time include Valentine Pyne (1603-1677), English master-gunner of England, the second son of George Pyne of Curry-Mallet, Somerset; John Pyne (died 1679), an English politician... Migration of the Pinn family to IrelandSome of the Pinn family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Pinns to arrive in North America: Pinn Settlers in United States in the 17th CenturyPinn Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Pinn Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
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