Vincen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Vincen is a name whose history on English soil dates back to the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066. The Vincen 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.

Early Origins of the Vincen family

The surname Vincen 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]

Early History of the Vincen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Vincen 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 Vincen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Vincen Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Vincent, Vinsant, Vinsen, Vincer and others.

Early Notables of the Vincen family (pre 1700)

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 Vincen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Vincen family to Ireland

Some of the Vincen 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.

Vincen migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Vincen or a variant listed above:

Vincen Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Vincen, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 [5]

The Vincen 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: Vincenti dabitur
Motto Translation: It shall be given to the conqueror.

Citations +

Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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)