Laffen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England
• Ireland

Early Origins of the Laffen family

Early History of the Laffen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Laffen research. Another 202 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1010, 1086, 1275, 1292, 1327, 1576, 1602, 1659, 1661, 1712 and 1820 are included under the topic Early Laffen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Laffen Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Lewin, Lewins, Lewens, Lewinson and others.

Early Notables of the Laffen family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Justinian Lewyn (Lewen) knighted May 12, 1661; and John Lowin (1576-1659), an English actor, became associated with the theatrical world by 1602. Born in...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Laffen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Laffen family

Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Laffen name or one of its variants: Mary Lewin was recorded as having arrived in Virginia in 1638; Charles Lewen arrived in Maryland in 1669; William Lewin arrived in New England in 1712.