Show ContentsViney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the ancestors of the Viney surname lived in the settlement of Fyning in Rogate, in the county of Sussex. The surname Viney belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Viney family

The surname Viney was first found in Winchester where Robert Fininge is generally understood to be the oldest listing of the family as recorded there (1210-1211.)

A few years later, Thomas Finning was listed in Suffolk in 1228 and later, the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex listed Alan Fynyng in 1332. Ralph de Vynynge was listed to the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327 and Robert Vinning was listed in Somerset in 1641. [1]

Early History of the Viney family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Viney research. Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Viney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Viney Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Viney are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Viney include: Vining, Vineham, Viney, Vinny, Finning, Finnings and others.

Early Notables of the Viney family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • Viney of Maidstone


United States Viney migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Viney or a variant listed above:

Viney Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Viney, who arrived in Maryland in 1666 [2]
Viney Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Charles Viney, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1848 [2]

Canada Viney migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Viney Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Miss Rosina Viney, (b. 1808), aged 47, Cornish servant departing from Falmouth destined for Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Barque John" on 3rd May 1855 which sank after striking the reef, she died in the sinking [3]

Australia Viney migration to Australia +

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

Viney Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Viney, (b. 1808), aged 24, English farmer who was convicted in Hertford, Hertfordshire, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "England"on 31st March 1832, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [4]
  • Mr. Gersham Viney, (b. 1814), aged 24, English brick layer who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 14 years for house breaking, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 27th July 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1891 [5]
  • George Viney, aged 27, a blacksmith, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Eliza" [6]
  • Samuel Viney, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "David Malcolm" in 1849 [7]
  • George Viney, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Eliza" in 1849 [6]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Viney 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:

Viney Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Harriet Viney, (b. 1835), aged 30, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd July 1865 [8]
  • Mr. William Viney, (b. 1837), aged 28, British baker travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd July 1865 [8]
  • Miss Harriet Viney, (b. 1863), aged 2, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd July 1865 [8]
  • Miss Louisa Viney, (b. 1851), aged 19, English housemaid, from Middlesex travelling from London aboard the ship "Ramsey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 17th June 1870 [9]

Contemporary Notables of the name Viney (post 1700) +

  • W. M. Viney, American politician, Delegate to South Carolina State Constitutional Convention from Colleton County, 1868 [10]
  • Michael Viney MRIA (1933-2023), English-born Irish artist, author, broadcaster and journalist, a contributor to The Irish Times from 1962
  • Keith Viney (b. 1957), English soccer player
  • Todd Viney (b. 1966), Australian rules football player
  • Matt Viney (b. 1954), Australian politician
  • Doug Viney, New Zealand boxer and kickboxer
  • Allan Viney OAM (1919-2008), Australian politician

HMS Hood
  • Mr. Albert E Viney (b. 1906), English Marine serving for the Royal Marine from Gosport, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [11]


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. 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)
  3. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/wreck_of_emigrant_ship_john_1855.pdf
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/england
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-grey
  6. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ELIZA 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Eliza.htm
  7. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) DAVID MALCOLM 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849DavidMalcolm.htm
  8. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  9. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  10. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  11. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm


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