Show ContentsHynes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The founding heritage of the Hynes family is in the Anglo-Saxon culture that once dominated in Britain. The name Hynes comes from when one of the family worked as a keeper of the deer. The surname Hynes originally derived from the Old English word "hinde" which referred to someone who tended the deer. A quote from Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales underlines the occupation: Ther n'as baillif, ne herde, ne other hine.

Early Origins of the Hynes family

The surname Hynes was first found in Oxfordshire, where one of the first on record was Robert Hine who was Lord of the manor and held estates in that shire in the year 1254. John le Hyne was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 in Oxford, and Robert le Hine was listed in Suffolk in the same rolls. The Writs of Parliament of 1313 show Stephen le Hine. 1

Early History of the Hynes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hynes research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1254, 1687, 1694, 1705, 1711, 1712, 1730, 1735 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Hynes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hynes 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. Hynes has been spelled many different ways, including Hines, Hine, Hyne, Hynes and others.

Early Notables of the Hynes family

Notables of this surname at this time include: William Hine (1687-1730), English organist and composer, born at Brightwell, Oxfordshire, in 1687. He was chorister of Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1694, and clerk in 1705. "In 1711 or 1712 Hine became organist of Gloucester Cathedral, and shortly afterwards married Alicia, the daughter of...
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hynes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hynes World Ranking

In the United States, the name Hynes is the 4,048th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Hynes is ranked the 948th most popular surname with an estimated 5,715 people with that name. 3 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Hynes is the 30th popular surname with an estimated 688 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Hynes family to Ireland

Some of the Hynes family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Hynes migration to the United States +

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 Hyness to arrive in North America:

Hynes Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Hynes, who landed in Virginia in 1637 5
  • Sarah Hynes, who arrived in Virginia in 1640 5
  • Marinus Hynes, who arrived in Virginia in 1640 5
  • Francis Hynes, who landed in Virginia in 1658 5
Hynes Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Richard Hynes, who landed in Virginia in 1717 5
Hynes Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Peter Hynes, who arrived in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1811 5
  • Nicholas Hynes, who landed in America in 1812 5
  • Edward Hynes, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 5
  • Michael Hynes, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1836 5
  • John Hynes, who arrived in Mississippi in 1844 5

Hynes migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hynes Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • John Hynes, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Trafalgar" from Galway, Ireland
  • William Hynes, aged 36, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Charlotte" from Cork, Ireland
  • Michael Hynes, aged 32, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the schooner "Jane" from Galway, Ireland
  • Mary Hynes, aged 30, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the schooner "Jane" from Galway, Ireland
  • Patrick Hynes, aged 2, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the schooner "Jane" from Galway, Ireland
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hynes migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hynes Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Mary Hynes, (Haines, Haynes), (b. 1794), aged 32, Irish country servant who was convicted in Galway, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Brothers" on 3rd October 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
  • John Hynes, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Abberton" in 1846 7
  • Mary Hynes, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Abberton" in 1846 7
  • John Hynes, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Britannia" in 1846 8
  • Bridget Hynes, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Hooghly" in 1846 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hynes migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hynes Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Edmond Hynes, British settler as part of the 8th Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Oriental Queen" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 18th September 1849 10
  • Mrs. Anne Hynes, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Oriental Queen" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 18th September 1849 10
  • Denis Hynes, aged 43, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Inchinnan" in 1852 11
  • Elizabeth Hynes, aged 27, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Inchinnan" in 1852 11
  • Anne Hynes, aged 7, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Inchinnan" in 1852 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hynes (post 1700) +

  • Patrick J. Hynes (1884-1907), American outfielder in Major League Baseball
  • Joshua "Colt" Hynes (b. 1985), American professional baseball pitcher
  • Jon Hynes, American classical concert pianist
  • Andrew Hynes (1749-1800), the American founder of Elizabethtown, Kentucky
  • Martin Hynes, American screenwriter, director, actor and producer
  • James Hynes (b. 1955), American novelist
  • Daniel W. Hynes (b. 1968), American politician
  • James Hynes, American politician, Member of California State Assembly 21st District, 1880-81 12
  • Dennis J. Hynes, American politician, Mayor of Kenosha, Wisconsin, 1866-67 12
  • Daniel W. Hynes, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 2000, 2004, 2008 12
  • ... (Another 31 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Halifax Explosion
  • Mr. John W.  Hynes (1895-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 13
Mount Mulligan Mine
  • Thomas S. Hynes, Australian coal miner who was killed in the Mount Mulligan Mine explosion in 1921


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  4. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/brothers
  7. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ABBERTON 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Abberton.htm
  8. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BRITANNIA 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Britannia.htm
  9. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HOOGHLY 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Hooghly.htm
  10. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  11. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  12. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  13. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance


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