The name Kinsmant has a rich and ancient history. It is an
Anglo-Saxon name that was originally derived from
Kynes-man which in Old English referred to a
cousin or relative. In Old English, patronyms were formed by adding a variety of suffixes to personal names, which changed over time and from place to place. For example, after the
Norman Conquest,
sunu and
sune, which meant
son, were the most common
patronymic suffixes. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the most common patronymic names included the word
filius, which meant
son. By the 14th century, the suffix
son had replaced these earlier versions. Surnames that were formed with
filius or
son were more common in the north of
England and it was here that the number of individuals without surnames was greatest at this time.
Early Origins of the Kinsmant family
The surname Kinsmant was first found in
Norfolk, where they held a
family seat from early times.
Early History of the Kinsmant family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kinsmant research.
Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1198, 1275, 1588, 1589 and 1676 are included under the topic Early Kinsmant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Kinsmant Spelling Variations
Before English spelling was standardized a few
hundred years ago,
spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Kinsmant include Kinsman, Cunesman, Kinesman and others.
Early Notables of the Kinsmant family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Kinsmant Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Kinsmant family to the New World and Oceana
A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck
England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in
England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Robert Kinsman who arrived in America in 1634; John Kinsman who sailed to Pennsylvania in 1682 and Isaac Kinsman who arrived in Colorado in 1682.