Surname Pinkney - Meaning and Origin
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Discovering roots through history books and family records had been a pastime until a tantalizing affair with iGENEA's DNA analysis opened up a surprising exploration into the Pinkney surname. The journey to discover our Viking roots through Y-DNA test, further enriched by connections found in iGENEA's Family Tree DNA project, was a transformative revelation of both history and identity.
A. Pinkney
read morePinkney: What does the surname Pinkney mean?
The surname Pinkney is of Anglo-Saxon origin and was initially used as a geographical identity for individuals living or working in a place called Pinkney, in Northamptonshire, England. The name Pinkney is derived from the Old English pre 7th Century "pinc," meaning finch, and "eg," meaning island, or more figuratively, high, dry ground in marsh, so it could be translated as "Finch Island." Over the years, individuals bearing this name migrated to other regions, including Scotland and Ireland, leading to variations in the name such as Pinckney, Pinkeny, Pinkney, and others. Like many surnames, the spelling often changed depending upon the phonetic spelling rendered by scribes and clerics. Today, individuals with the surname Pinkney can be found in many parts of the world, including the United States, where it is particularly prevalent.
Order DNA origin analysisPinkney: Where does the name Pinkney come from?
The last name Pinkney is of Old English origin and derived from the place called Pinckney in Northamptonshire, England. The name Pinkney is a locational surname, which was originally derived from pre-existing names of towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.
In the Old English language, it means 'pic' meaning a sharp point which could be a hill or a pointed headland and 'eg' means an island. Therefore, the original bearers of the Pinkney name likely lived on a squarish plot of land with a pointed shape.
The surname Pinkney, along with its variations of Pinkney, Pinkeney, Pinkiney, and others, began to spread outside of the UK with emigration to other continents. In 1684, a bearer of the name Pinkney claimed land in America through a proprietary charter. Today, those bearing the Pinkney surname can be found in significant numbers throughout England, and to a lesser extent in other English-speaking countries like Australia, Canada, and the United States.
Variations of the surname Pinkney
The surname Pinkney, a name of Old English origin, has multiple variations and spellings. These variations perhaps arose due to cultural influences, dialect, or as a result of immigration and translation.
Some common variations of Pinkney include Pinkeny, Pinkeney, and Pinkenay. Other alternate spellings could be Pinkene, Pinckney, Pinkie, Pynkney, Pynkeny, Pynkeney, Pynkenay, and Pynkene.
These variants reflect the attempt to phonetically spell and pronounce the original name. For example, the surname Pinckney may have resulted from French, Dutch or German influences. Meanwhile, Pinkie might be a Scottish variant.
There are also certain surnames that may be of the same origin as Pinkney. The name Pinckney, for instance, is primarily found in North America. This could be due to individuals with the original surname Pinkney migrating to the continent and their name adapting or being altered over time.
However, it's important to note that these are speculative and may not be definitive variations of the surname Pinkney. To ascertain a direct connection, one would have to conduct a deep study of genealogical records, family histories, and migration patterns.
Famous people with the name Pinkney
- David Pinkney: A British businessman and former professional race car driver.
- Andrea Davis Pinkney: An American writer and editor who has published several works of fiction and nonfiction for young readers.
- Brian Pinkney: An award-winning American children's book illustrator and writer. He often collaborates with his wife, Andrea Davis Pinkney.
- Jerry Pinkney: An American illustrator and writer of children's books, he has been the recipient of many notable literary awards. He is the father of Brian Pinkney.
- Gloria Jean Pinkney: An American author of children's books and wife of Jerry Pinkney.
- J. C. Pinkney: A professional American football player who played 2 seasons in the National Football League (NFL).
- Yvonne Pinkney: A British freestyle swimmer who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics.
- Bill Pinkney: An American singer and original member of The Drifters, a popular rhythm and blues and soul group.
- Kathryn Stripling Byer, nee Pinkney: An American poet who served as North Carolina's first female poet laureate.