Syngen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Syngen was first found in Oxfordshire where the family claim descent "from the great Domesday Baron Adam de Port, [who] took the name St John in the XII century on his marriage with the heiress of the powerful Norman family, so called." 1

"William de St. John, whose name was derived from the territory of St. John, near Rouen, came into England with [William the] Conqueror, as Grand Master of the Artillery, and supervisor of the waggons and carriages, whence the horses' hames, or collar, was borne for his cognizance. He married Oliva, daughter of Ralph de Filgiers, of Normandy, and had by her, Thomas, who died without issue, and John de St. John, who inherited, on the demise of his brother, all the lands in England, and principally the lordship of Stanton, co. Oxon [(Oxfordshire)] (for distinction from the other towns of the same name, called Stanton St. John). This John was a person of great eminence in the reign of William Rufus, being one of the twelve knights that accompanied Robert Fitz-Hamon, Earl of Gloucester, in a warlike expedition against the Welsh, and received, 'in reward for his great services, and helps in many victories,' the castle of Faumont, co. Glamorgan. " 2

Another source confirms in part, this lineage: "Stanton St. John in the union of Headington in Oxfordshire was home to the family. This place takes the adjunct to its name from the family of St. John, who held the manor in the reign of Edward III." 3

John de Saint-John (died 1302), was "Lieutenant of Aquitaine, the son of Robert de Saint-John and his wife Agnes, daughter of William de Cantelupe. His grandfather, William de Saint-John, was the son of Adam de Port. Robert de Saint-John died in 1267, whereupon John received livery of his lands. John also succeeded his father as Governor of Porchester Castle." 4

Another branch of the family was found at Warnford in Southampton. "The manor, in the reign of William I., belonged to Hugh de Port, whose descendant, William, assumed the name of his maternal grandmother, St. John: the old manor-house, near the church, is now a ruin called King John's, by corruption of the family name." 3

In the 17th century, "the family of St. John had a venerable mansion [in Battersea, Surrey], which was the favourite resort of Pope, who, when visiting his friend Lord Bolingbroke, usually selected as his study, in which he is said to have composed some of his celebrated works, a parlour wainscoted with cedar, overlooking the Thames." 3

Another branch of the family was found at Liddiard-Tregooze in Wiltshire. "This place has from the time of the Conquest been the property of the family of St. John, whose mansion and park are near the church." 3