Show ContentsSinnet History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Sinnet family

The surname Sinnet was first found in County Wexford (Irish: Loch Garman), founded by Vikings as Waesfjord, and located in Southeastern Ireland, in the province of Leinster. "Descended from an honourable stock, of Norman extraction. They were possessed of lands in Ireland from the time of the Invasion, and in the county where they first found footing." 1 They claim descent from the Marquis of Lusignan, whose descendants came into England, at or soon after the Norman Conquest.

Early History of the Sinnet family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sinnet research. Another 191 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1344 and 1720 are included under the topic Early Sinnet History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sinnet Spelling Variations

During an investigation of the origin of each name, it was found that church officials and medieval scribes spelled many surnames as they sounded. Therefore, during the lifetime of a single person, a name could be spelt numerous ways. Some of the spelling variations for the name Sinnet include Sinnot, Sinnott, Sinnet, Sinnett, Sinot, Sinott and many more.

Early Notables of the Sinnet family

More information is included under the topic Early Sinnet Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Sinnet migration to the United States +

In the 1840s, Ireland experienced a mass exodus to North America due to the Great Potato Famine. These families wanted to escape from hunger and disease that was ravaging their homeland. With the promise of work, freedom and land overseas, the Irish looked upon British North America and the United States as a means of hope and prosperity. Those that survived the journey were able to achieve this through much hard work and perseverance. Early immigration and passenger lists revealed many bearing the name Sinnet:

Sinnet Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Richard Sinnet, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1823 2


The Sinnet Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Sin not
Motto Translation: If not


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. 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)


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