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The surname Vaan is derived from the Middle English words "fein," "fayn," or " fane," which all mean "glad." The name was a nickname for a happy or good-natured person. The name could also have been a local name derived from the expression "at the van" or in other words near the "threshing-floor" derived from the word "van" which was a threshing instrument.
The surname Vaan was first found in Monmouthshire (Welsh: Sir Fynwy), where the ancestors of the earls of Westmorland, "wrote their name Vane, and descended from Howel ap Vane, living there before the time of William the Conqueror" 1 living about the year 1060.
Another reference states: "The Fanes or Vanes are said to have originated from Wales; in the reign of Henry VI, they were seated at Hilden in Tunbridge, in Kent, by marriage with the Peshalls." 2
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Vaan research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1580, 1589, 1602, 1613, 1616, 1625, 1626, 1629, 1639, 1645, 1653, 1655, 1662, 1663, 1666, 1680, 1681, 1682, 1689, 1693, 1708, 1710, 1715, 1721, 1723, 1727 and 1734 are included under the topic Early Vaan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
There are relatively few surnames native to Wales, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. Early variations of Welsh surnames can be explained by the fact that very few people in the early Middle Ages were literate. Priests and the few other literate people were responsible for recording names in official documents. And because most people could not specific how to properly record their names it was up to the individual recorder of that time to determine how a spoken name should be recorded. Variations due to the imprecise or improper recording of a name continued later in history when names originally composed in the Brythonic Celtic, language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, were transliterated into English. Welsh names that were documented in English often changed dramatically since the native language of Wales, which was highly inflected, did not copy well. Occasionally, however, spelling variations were carried out according to an individual's specific design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations could be indicated by minor variations. The spelling variations of the name Vaan have included Fane, Ap Fane, Fain, Vane, Vain, Veynes, Vanes and others.
Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Francis Fane (1580-1629), 1st Earl of Westmorland (second creation); Mildmay Fane, 2nd Earl of Westmorland (1602-1666), an English nobleman, politician, and writer; Lady Mary Fane (1639-1681) was the daughter of Mildmay Fane, 2nd Earl of Westmorland; Sir Henry Vane the Elder (1589-1655), English courtier, father of Henry Vane the Younger; Sir Henry Vane the Younger (1613-1662), statesman, Puritan, son of Henry Vane the Elder; and his son, Christopher Vane, 1st Baron Barnard (1653-1723), an English peer; George Fane (c. 1616-1663) was an English politician who fought for the...
Another 98 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Vaan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Many Welsh families joined their Scottish and Irish neighbors during the late 1800s and early 1900s in seeking refuge in North America. Like the Irish and Scottish, many Welsh anxiously awaited the work, freedom, and opportunities that they believed lay in North America. Those who did journey over to the United States and what became known as Canada often realized those dreams, but only through much toil and perseverance. Whenever and however these Welsh immigrants arrived in North America, they were instrumental in the creation of the industry, commerce, and cultural heritage within those two developing nations. In the immigration and passenger lists a number of early immigrants bearing the name Vaan were found: Sir Henry Vane (1613-1662), who arrived in Boston in 1635, was the Governor of Massachusetts in 1636 and returned to England in 1637, where he became a Member of Parliament.