Fains History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• France

Etymology of Fains

From the historical and enchanting region of France emerged a multitude of notable family names, including that of the distinguished Fains family. Originally, the people in this region went by one (personal) name. Surnames evolved during the Middle Ages when people began to assume an extra name to avoid confusion and to further identify themselves. These names then began to become "fixed" or hereditary between the generations. One of the types of names adopted as surnames were those derived from nicknames. Nicknames, or "eke-names," were an added name that generally reflected some physical characteristics or other attribute of the person that used the name. The Fains surname derives from the Old French word "fin," which could mean "fine," "delicate," "skilled," or even "cunning;" and as such could have been a nickname for a delicate, sensitive, elegant, or clever man.

Early Origins of the Fains family

Early History of the Fains family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fains research. Another 210 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1494, 1498, 1525, 1530, 1532, 1555, 1567, 1571, 1611, 1778 and 1837 are included under the topic Early Fains History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fains Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Fin, Fins, Finn, Finns, Fain, Faint, Fains, Faints, Faind, Fainds, Fein, Feint, Feins, Feints, Feind, Feinds, de Fin, du Fin and many more.

Early Notables of the Fains family

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fains Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Fains family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Martha Fin settled in Annapolis in 1729; and Richard Fin settled in Virginia in 1698.