Givins History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Netherlands
• England
• Ireland

Etymology of Givins

The distinguished surname Givins emerged among the industrious people of Flanders, which was an important trading partner and political ally of Britain during the Middle Ages. As a result of the frequent commercial intercourse between the Flemish and English nations, many Flemish migrants settled in Britain. In early times, people were known by only a single name. However, as the population grew and people traveled further afield, it became increasingly necessary to assume an additional name to differentiate between bearers of the same personal name. One of the most common classes of surname is the patronymic surname, which was usually derived from the first name of the person's father. Flemish surnames of this type are often characterized by the diminutive suffix -kin, which became very frequent in England during the 14th century. The surname Givins is derived from Giff, a pet form of the personal name Geoffrey. This pet form is supplemented by the diminutive suffix -on or -in.

Early Origins of the Givins family

Early History of the Givins family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Givins research. Another 124 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1640, 1710, 1837, 1890 and 1910 are included under the topic Early Givins History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Givins Spelling Variations

Flemish surnames are characterized by a large number of spelling variations. One reason for this is that medieval English lacked definite spelling rules. The spellings of surnames were also influenced by the official court languages, which were French and Latin. Names were rarely spelled consistently in medieval times. Scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to specific spelling rules, and people often had their names registered in several different forms throughout their lives. One of the greatest reasons for change is the linguistic uniqueness of the Flemish settlers in England, who spoke a language closely related to Dutch. The pronunciation and spelling of Flemish names were often altered to suit the tastes of English-speaking people. In many cases, the first, final, or middle syllables of surnames were eliminated. The name has been spelled Giffin, Giffen, Geffen, Giffan, Giffon, Geffan, Geffon, Giffines, Giffins, Giffans, Giffons, Whiffen, Whiffin, Wiffin, Wiffen, McGiffen and many more.

Early Notables of the Givins family

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

Migration of the Givins family to Ireland

Some of the Givins family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Givins family

The records on immigrants and ships' passengers show a number of people bearing the name Givins: Mr. Giffen settled in Boston in 1769; Thomas Giffen settled in Jamaica in 1801; Hannah Giffin settled in Pennsylvania in 1771; followed by John Giffin in 1840. In Newfoundland the surname came to be spelled Whiffen and Wiffin, with many family members established at Bonavista. William Wiffen was registered in Bonavista in 1828.