Show ContentsDinh History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Of all the Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Dinh is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in Dinham, a hamlet in the county Monmouthshire. 1

Early Origins of the Dinh family

The surname Dinh was first found in Monmouthshire. However, another source points to Devon and Cornwall as the origin of the family. In this case, Barons Dinham, and De Dinant, claim descent from the Viscounts Dinant of Bretagne, France. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 has two listings in Devon: Oliver de Dynham; and Robert de Dyncham as both holding lands there at that time. 1

The manor of Bodarle or Bodardle, in the parish of Lanlivery, Cornwall belonged in the reign of Richard I. In 1259, it was conveyed by Isolda de Cardinham to Oliver de Dinan, in whose posterity it continued for several generations. 3

Early History of the Dinh family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dinh research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1295, 1320, 1433, 1460, 1486, 1501, 1765 and 1784 are included under the topic Early Dinh History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dinh Spelling Variations

The 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. Dinh has been spelled many different ways, including Dynham, Dinan, Dinham, Dinat, Dyneham and others.

Early Notables of the Dinh family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir John Dynham, 1st Baron Dynham, (c. 1433-1501) was made High Sheriff of Devon and Lord Chancellor of Ireland in 1460, Lord High Treasurer of England in 1486, an English peer and politician, served as councillor to Edward IV, Richard III and Henry VII. Charles Dignum, son of a master tailor, was born at Rotherhithe in 1765. His father, being a Roman Catholic, placed him when a boy in the choir of the Sardinian ambassador's chapel in Duke Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, where his fine voice attracted the attention of Samuel Webbe, the glee composer...
Another 131 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dinh Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dinh Ranking

In the United States, the name Dinh is the 6,497th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 4 However, in France, the name Dinh is ranked the 8,649th most popular surname with an estimated 500 - 1,000 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Dinh family

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 Dinhs to arrive in North America: Thomas Dinham, who came to Virginia in 1731; George Dinham, who arrived in New England in 1763; as well as Daniel, James, Michael, and Thomas Dinan, who all settled in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860..


Contemporary Notables of the name Dinh (post 1700) +

  • Dinh K. Le, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1996, 2000 6


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  3. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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