Kyffin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales

Etymology of Kyffin

What does the name Kyffin mean?

The Welsh name Kyffin comes from a place name. Some instances derive from the hamlet of Cyffin, in the county of Montgomery, while others come from the parish of Gyffin, in the county of Carnarvon. The Welsh word "cyffin" means "limit" or "confine."

Early Origins of the Kyffin family

The surname Kyffin was first found in Montgomeryshire (Welsh: Sir Drefaldwyn), located in mid-Eastern Wales, one of thirteen historic counties, and anciently the medieval kingdom of Powys Wenwynwyn, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Kyffin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kyffin research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1599, 1616 and 1701 are included under the topic Early Kyffin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kyffin Spelling Variations

Compared to other ancient cultures found in the British Isles, the number of Welsh surnames are relatively few, but there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations. These spelling variations began almost as soon as surname usage became common. As a result, people could not specify how to spell their own names leaving the specific recording up to the individual scribe or priest. Those recorders would then spell the names as they heard them, causing many different variations. Later, many Welsh names were recorded in English. This transliteration process was extremely imprecise since the Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh used many sounds the English language was not accustomed to. Finally, some variations occurred by the individual's design: a branch loyalty within a family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were indicated by spelling variations of one's name. The Kyffin name over the years has been spelled Kyffin, Kiffin, Cuffin, Cyffin and others.

Early Notables of the Kyffin family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was

Maurice Kyffin (d. 1599), Welsh poet and translator from LLansilin, Denbighshire

Migration of the Kyffin family

The Welsh began to emigrate to North America in the late 1800s and early 1900s in search of land, work, and freedom. Those that arrived helped shape the industry, commerce, and the cultural heritage of both Canada and the United States. The records regarding immigration and passenger show a number of people bearing the name Kyffin: David Kiffin settled in Virginia in 1635.