Surname Kinch - Meaning and Origin
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Kinch: What does the surname Kinch mean?
The surname Kinch is of English origin and is thought to have derived from the Olde English ‘cyne’ meaning ‘royal’. It is believed to have taken on the meaning of ‘king's or royal kin’, and in medieval times was used to indicate the status of royalty.
Kinch is also thought to have derived from the Olde English 'cynn' meaning 'family' and subsequently became used to refer to related persons linked by marriage, adoption, or bloodlines.
The origin of this surname has been discussed for hundreds of years, with references to the Kinch family appearing as far back as the 12th century in records located in Devon and Nottinghamshire. At this time, the Kinch family was already well-established, and many references to them were located in the Norman French records of the day.
The first recorded ancestor is thought to be one Hugh Kynge, who served as Forester of Keislegate under King Henry IV in 1393. The Kinch family became prominent landowners in the county, and this is reflected in the records of Peter Kinge who was documented as holding 25 acres of woodland near Keislegate in 1492.
The Kinch family is famous for its members who served in various branches of the Armed forces throughout history, as well as their association with the Church. It has been said that the Kinch family motto is ‘Honor Above All’, taking into consideration their long established and well respected ancestry.
Today, the Kinch family name lives on in various branches of the family throughout England. Although the family itself is not as prominent as it once was, the memory and legacy of their proud and noble ancestry continues to perpetuate through the legacy of this historic family surname.
Order DNA origin analysisKinch: Where does the name Kinch come from?
The surname Kinch is most commonly found in the United Kingdom today, primarily in the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Lancashire, London, and Yorkshire.
It is believed that the surname Kinch is derived from the Old English given names Cynesige, Kynesige and Cynsige from a personal name meaning "kin-victor". In Medieval times the Kinch family were known to mainly inhabit the home counties which are today known as the South and West of England. Records of the past few hundred years have shown that the name has been spread across the United Kingdom.
The highest concentrations of the Kinch family can be found in Cornwall, Devon, Lancashire, London, and Yorkshire and in more recent times in Essex, Suffolk and Surrey. The majority of Kinch's with these surnames living in Cornwall are descendants of large families which have been living in the area from the early 1700's, this is the same with many of the Kinch families living in the other counties.
Strengthened ties with friends, family and neighbours in the home counties of England has meant that many people of this surname have remained in the same area. Kinch is quite a rare surname, with fewer than 300 people visiting the UK census in the 21st Century who identified themselves as belonging to this family.
Overall the surname Kinch has been spread very widely over the UK and today the highest concentrations of the family can be found in the Southern and Western counties. Kinch is a fairly rare surname today and those living with the surname still have strong ties to earlier family members in the same area.
Variations of the surname Kinch
The surname Kinch is believed to have originated from England, although there is little evidence to prove it. The original spelling of the surname was Kynch, and the variations that developed include Kince, Kyns, Kinch, and Kynche.
The variants of the surname Kinch can differ depending on the country it is used in. In England, it is still spelled as Kinch, Kynch, and Kynche. However, the spelling Kyns is most commonly found in Scotland, while the spelling Kince can be found in Ireland.
The variations of the surname can also be attributed to changes in immigration rules, dialectal differences, or simply the way family members choose to pronounce it. For example, in America, many families with the surname Kinch have chosen to change their spelling to Kinch, as this is easier for them to pronounce.
In addition to the spelling variations, the surname Kinch has some associated surnames that are believed to be of similar origin. These include Kynaston, Kinastone, Kyneston, Kineston, Kynnestone, and Kinston. It is possible that these surnames developed from the same family group, as their spellings are relatively close and feature the same root element – kynch or kin.
Overall, the surname Kinch has a wide range of spelling and surname variations. In addition to Kinch, Kynch, Kyns, Kince and Kinch, the surname also has associated spellings such as Kynaston, Kinastone, Kyneston, Kineston, Kynnestone, and Kinston. The wide range of spellings is likely a result of changes in immigration rules, dialectal differences, and family preferences.
Famous people with the name Kinch
- Adam Kinch: professional footballer who plays for Argentina's Argentinos Juniors.
- Alan Kinch: actor who starred in the popular British comedy series "The Young Ones" and "Bottom".
- John Kinch: renowned mobile app designer and founder of the firm Kinch Mobile.
- Mark Kinch: Canadian television presenter and reporter for Global News.
- Matt Kinch: award-winning filmmaker, based in London.
- David Kinch: chef and restaurateur who owns the California based Michelin three-star Manresa restaurant.
- Kieran Kinch: Canadian singer-songwriter and musician.
- Ted Kinch: American sportscaster for the Fox Sports' Milwaukee Brewers broadcast team.
- Daniel Kinch: former British sprinter who won an Olympic bronze medal in the men's 4 x 400 metre relay at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
- Matt Kinch: former professional rugby league footballer for Warrington Wolves and Widnes Vikings.
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Comments or additions to the name "Kinch"
20.03.2024
I came across Kinchington Similar