Lins History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Early Origins of the Lins family

The surname Lins was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire.

The name Lynne originally meaning "a waterfall," is first noted in the area of Dalry in the years 1200-1300. They were located here and had land and owned the Castle of Lin near the waterfall of the Calf.

"The family of Lin or Lynn of that Ilk in the parish of Dairy, Ayrshire, took their name from the cascade on the Water of Caaf, near which stood the ancient castle of Lin." 1

Black also notes another possible origin of the family. "From the old manor of the same name in Peeblesshire. David de Lyne son of Robert de Lyne, granted to Neubode 'totam peteram de locqueruard que vocatur Wluesstrother,' c. 1165-1214, a grant increased by his son Robert within the same period." 1

The barony of Lynn was created from lands granted by Hugh de Morville in 1204. Later, John de la Linde was Warden of the City of London in 1265. Walter de Lynne was listed on the Ragman Rolls of 1296.

Early History of the Lins family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lins research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1263, 1296, 1452, 1579, 1626, 1636, 1737, 1781 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Lins History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lins Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Lind, Lynd, Lynde, Lynn, Line, Lines and others.

Early Notables of the Lins family

Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lins Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Lins family to Ireland

Some of the Lins family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 73 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lins migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lins Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Apolonia Lins, who landed in New York, NY in 1709 2
Vindle Lins, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 2
George Lins, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1749 2

Lins Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Lawrence Lins, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1858 2
Adam Lins, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1875 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Lins (post 1700) +

Joseph Lins, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Wisconsin, 1928 3

The Lins 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: Semper virescit virtus
Motto Translation: Virtue always flourishes.

Sources +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html