The name Finson reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Finson family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Finson family lived in Leicestershire. Their name, however, is a reference to St. Vincent-de-Cramenil, Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
The surname Finson was first found in Leicestershire where they held a family seat from early times at Swinford. They were originally from St. Vincent-de-Cramenil in Le Havre in Normandy. Today, Swinford is a village and civil parish in the Harborough district
"The family of Vincent descend from Miles Vincent, owner of the lands at Swinford in the county of Leicester, in the tenth of Edward II." [1]
Exploration of the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 discovered: Roger Vincent in Berkshire; and Richard filius Vincent in Huntingdonshire. [2] Kirby's Quest listed Vincent atte More in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) [3] Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johannes Vynsand. [2]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Finson research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1584, 1626, 1584, 1618, 1591, 1646, 1639, 1697, 1662, 1634, 1678, 1638, 1617 and 1761 are included under the topic Early Finson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Finson include Vincent, Vinsant, Vinsen, Vincer and others.
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Augustine Vince (1584?-1626), English herald, born presumably at Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, about 1584, the third and youngest son of William Vincent (d. 1618) and his wife Elizabeth. [4]
John Vincent (1591-1646), was nominated by the committee of the Westminster Assembly to the rectory of Sedgefield, Durham; and his son, Nathaniel Vincent (1639?-1697), was an English nonconformist minister from Cornwall, ejected in 1662 and several times imprisoned.
Thomas Vincent (1634-1678), was...
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Finson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Finson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.