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Show ContentsPayne History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Payne Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Payne

What does the name Payne mean?

The ancient Normans that arrived in England following the Conquest of 1066 are the initial ancestors from which the many generations of the Payne family have grown. The name Payne was given to a member of the family who was a person who lives in the country or a person who's religious beliefs are somewhat suspect. Checking further we found the name was derived from the Old English word paien, which was originally derived from the Latin word paganus, meaning rustic or countryman. It later also came to mean heathen and was often given to children whose baptism was delayed or, to adults whose religious zeal was not what the standards of the day indicated it should have been.

Conversely, many believe that the family claim Norman descent as in "Paganus was a Norman personal name, whence the modern Payne and Paine, as well as the more ancient Paganel and Paynel. William the Conqueror was assisted in his invasion, by several persons so designated, and in [the] Domesday Book we find among his tenants in capite, or chief holders of land, the names of Ralph Paganel and Edmund filius Pagani, i.e., Fitz-Payne. Indeed during the Norman dynasty, Paganus was one of the most common names in England." 1

Early Origins of the Payne family

The surname Payne was first found in Somerset where the aforementioned Edmund filius Pagen (Pagani) 2 was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. The same source also lists the aforementioned Ralph Paganel as Radulfus Paganus, again in Somerset. 2

Almost one hundred years later, Reginaldus filius Pain was listed as a Knights Templar in 1185 in Lincolnshire. The Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire list John Pane in 1190 and the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire list Robert Pain in 1200. Payn de Weston was listed in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1268. 3

Sir John Paynell of Drax, from Yorkshire was summoned to Parliament as a Baron from the 29th of December 1299 to the 25th of August 1318. 4 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 have numerous entries as a forename and surname including: Payne de Stantin in Norfolk; Robert filius Payn in Huntingdonshire; and Gilbert Payn in Essex. 5

The parish of Stourpain in Dorset "derives its name from its situation near the river Stour, which runs on the west and south, and from one of its earliest proprietors, named Paine." 6 "A priory of Black canons, in honour of St. James, was founded here [in Warter in the East Riding of Yorkshire] in 1132, by Geoffry Fitz-Pain." 6

"It is however, remarkable that a colony of Paynes has been established across the Scottish border in Dumfriesshire. " 7

Early History of the Payne family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Payne research. Another 176 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1455, 1489, 1506, 1532, 1582, 1630, 1632, 1652, 1695, 1698, 1704, 1710, 1713, 1715, 1717, 1789 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Payne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Payne Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Payne has been recorded under many different variations, including Payne, Paine, Paynell, Pane, Pain and others.

Early Notables of the Payne family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Peter Payne (died 1455), English lollard and Taborite, born at Hough-on-the-Hill, near Grantham, Lincolnshire
  • Elizabeth Pain (c. 1652-1704), sometimes spelled Payne, English spinster in Boston who was brought to trial after the death of her child, she was acquitted of the murder charge but found guilty of neg...
  • Henry Nevil Payne (died 1710?) a dramatist and agitator for the Roman Catholic cause in Scotland and England
  • Robert Payne (c.1630-1713), an English politician, Member of the Parliament for Gloucester (1695-1698)

Payne World Ranking

In the United States, the name Payne is the 166th most popular surname with an estimated 141,759 people with that name. 8 However, in Canada, the name Payne is ranked the 371st most popular surname with an estimated 12,481 people with that name. 9 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Payne is the 42nd popular surname with an estimated 520 people with that name. 10 Australia ranks Payne as 154th with 19,278 people. 11 New Zealand ranks Payne as 163rd with 3,182 people. 12 The United Kingdom ranks Payne as 119th with 41,186 people. 13

Migration of the Payne family to Ireland

Some of the Payne family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 142 words (10 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Payne migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Paynes were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Payne Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Payne, aged 23, who settled in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Transport"
  • Mrs. Anna Payne, aged 40, who landed in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Increase" 14
  • Mr. William Payne, (b. 1620), aged 15, British settler who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Abigail" 15
  • Jo Payne, (b. 1621), aged 14, British settler who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Abigail" 15
  • Miss Elizabeth Payne, aged 21, who settled in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Assurance" 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Payne Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jasper Payne, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1743 14
Payne Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Isaac Payne, who landed in America in 1805 14
  • Elizabeth Payne, aged 40, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1812 14
  • Joel Payne, aged 35, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1836 14
  • Charles Payne, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1850 14
  • Mary Payne, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Payne migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Payne Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. John B Payne U.E. born in Clonmel, Ireland who settled in Fredericton, New Brunswick c. 1784 he served in the 17th Regiment Light Dragoons 16
Payne Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • John Payne, aged 32, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Hibernia" from Kinsale, Ireland
  • Mary Payne, aged 26, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Hibernia" from Kinsale, Ireland
  • Miss Margaret Payne, aged 2 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Sobraon" departing 8th May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 29th June 1847 but she died on board 17

Payne migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Payne Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Payne, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
  • Mr. Joseph Payne, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 19
  • Mr. James Payne, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 20
  • Henry Payne, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia 21
  • Mr. Joseph Payne, British Convict who was convicted in Shropshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 22
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Payne migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Payne Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • George Payne, aged 29, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Oriental" in 1840
  • Maria Payne, aged 22, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Oriental" in 1840
  • Mr. George Payne, (b. 1810), aged 29, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 23
  • Mrs. Payne, (b. 1817), aged 22, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 23
  • William Payne, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ashburton" in 1857
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Payne migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 24
Payne Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. John Payne, (b. 1617), aged 18, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Matthew" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 25
  • Mr. Robert Payne, aged 21 who arrived in St. Kitts (St Christopher) aboard the ship "Amity" in 1635 15
Payne Settlers in West Indies in the 19th Century
  • William Maynard Payne, who arrived in Barbados in 1802 14

Contemporary Notables of the name Payne (post 1700) +

  • Cecilia Payne Gaposchkin (1900-1979), British-born American astronomer and astrophysicist who proposed in her 1925 doctoral thesis that stars were composed primarily of hydrogen and helium
  • Donald Milford Payne (1934-2024), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from New Jersey 10th District, 1989-; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 26
  • Roger Searle Payne (1935-2023), American biologist and environmentalist famous for his 1967 co-discovery of whale song among humpback whales
  • Adreian DeAngleo Payne (1991-2022), American professional NBA basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Orlando Magic; he was fatally shot at home in Orlando in the early morning of May 9, 2022
  • Allison Payne (1964-2021), American nine-time Emmy Award winner, a 21-year anchorwoman with WGN-TV
  • Eddie Payne (1951-2021), American college basketball coach and the head men's basketball coach at the University of South Carolina Upstate
  • Leslie "Les" Payne (1941-2018), American Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, editor and columnist at Newsday, founder of the National Association of Black Journalists
  • Willie W. Payne (b. 1955), American politician, Mayor of Pontiac, Michigan, 2002-. African Methodist Episcopal 26
  • William Winter Payne (1807-1874), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Alabama State Legislature; U.S. Representative from Alabama, 1841-47 26
  • William Wallace Payne, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Cayuga County 1st District, 1859-60 26
  • ... (Another 169 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Air New Zealand Flight 901
  • Mr. Alfred Murray Payne (1945-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Remuera, North Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 27
Halifax Explosion
  • Mr. Walter F. G.  Payne (1886-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 28
HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. John Robert Payne (1918-1941), Australian Sick Berth Attendant from Richmond, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 29
HMS Hood
  • Mr. John W Payne (b. 1905), English Leading Stoker serving for the Royal Navy from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 30
  • Mr. Harry T Payne (b. 1921), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Staines, Middlesex, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 30
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Kenneth James Payne, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking, listed as missing in action 31
Prince of Wales colliery
  • Mr. James Payne (b. 1862), Welsh coal miner who was working at the Prince of Wales colliery in Abercarn, Wales on the 11th September 1878 when there was a coal mine explosion; he died 32
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Michael Payne, English Fireman from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 33
  • Mr. Martin Sylvester Payne, American 2nd Class passenger from Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 34
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Vivian Ponsonby Payne (d. 1912), aged 22, Canadian First Class passenger from Montreal, Quebec who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 35
SS Atlantic
  • Robert Payne, crew member who was aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, survived the sinking
SS Newfoundland
  • Mr. Headley Payne (b. 1896), Newfoundlander from Greenspond, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he survived
USS Indianapolis
  • Edward Glenjoy Payne (1920-1965), American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he survived the sinking 36
  • George David Payne, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 36

The Payne 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: Malo mori quam foedari
Motto Translation: I would rather die than be disgraced.

Suggested Readings for the name Payne +

  • The Paynes of Virginia by Brooke Payne.
  • Descendants of Sanford Payne by Madge Starliper Payne.
  • Foxworth, Bush, Payne, Bledsoe & Allied Lineages by Sarah Payne Foxworth.
  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  7. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  8. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  9. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  10. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  11. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  12. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  13. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  14. 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)
  15. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  16. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  17. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 92)
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
  21. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Almorah voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1817 with 180 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/almorah/1817
  22. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
  23. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  24. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  25. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  26. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  27. Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
  28. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  29. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  30. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  31. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  32. Entombed in flood and flame (retrieved 3rd August 2021). Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20120603025705/http://www.crosskeys.me.uk/history/prince.htm
  33. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  34. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  35. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  36. Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew
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