Show ContentsHinge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Hinge

What does the name Hinge mean?

The origins of the Hinge name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in an area that was referred to as the ing, which means the meadow by a river. 1 The name could also have been a baptismal name as in son of Inge. 2

"Ing is an ancient clerical name in [Buckinghamshire]. Roger Inge was rector of Maid's Moreton in 1291; and John Inge was vicar of Stanton - Barry in 1425." 3

Early Origins of the Hinge family

The surname Hinge was first found in Leicestershire where the first record of the family was found c. 1160 when the Latin form Inga was recorded. This entry may have been a forename but more likely a surname. As a forename, we continue with Inga filia Thoire in the Assize Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1202 and later Inga of the Hull in the Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire in 1332.

As a surname, John Ing was found in the Curia Regis Rolls for Gloucestershire in 1212 and later William Ingge was found in the Assize Rolls for Staffordshire in 1283. Reginald de Inga was recorded in the Pipe Rolls for Essex in 1162 and later, Ralph de Ging was found in Devon in 1245. 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had two listings for the family: John Inge, Oxfordshire; and William Inge, Huntingdonshire. 2 Robert Inge was rector of Salthouse, Norfolk in 1327. 5

Early History of the Hinge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hinge research. Another 132 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1315, 1480, 1484, 1488, 1496, 1504, 1511, 1527, 1528, 1684, 1753 and 1807 are included under the topic Early Hinge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hinge Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Hinge were recorded, including Inge, Ing and others.

Early Notables of the Hinge family

Notables of the family at this time include Hugh Inge or Ynge, (1527-1528) Achbishop of Dublin and Lord Chancellor of Ireland, born at Shepton Mallet, Somersetshire. He became a scholar of Winchester College in 1480, and in 1484 became scholar, and in 1488 fellow, of New College, Oxford, where he graduated in arts and resided until 1496. He travelled in foreign parts, and received the degree of D.D. from a continental university, being incorporated in the same degree at Oxford on 3 April 1511. He...
Another 85 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hinge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Hinge migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Hinge family emigrate to North America:

Hinge Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johann Jacob Hinge, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752 6

Hinge migration to Australia +

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

Hinge Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Hinge, aged 28, a miner, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Marion" 7


  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
  6. 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)
  7. South Australian Register 1857. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Marion 1857. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/marion1857.shtml


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