Wyness

Recorded in the spellings of Wyndis, Wynes and Wyness, this is apparently a Scottish surname. However as the spelling has become 'confused' with a number of English surnames such as Wine or Wines, and possibly the Scots Wemyss and Wemys, it is no longer possible to tell with absolute accuracy, the true origin. However according to the dictionary of Scottish Surnames, this the surname is locational from the estate and village known as Wyndis, or the lands of Wyndis, in the county of Aberdeen. The meaning od the place anemis uncertain but may be 'white water' or similar. It would seem that about the year 1502, the clan fell into some dispute with the crown of Scotland, a far from uncommon happening in those days. It may have been dispossed of its lands as the chief Alexander Wyndis of that Ilk as he was known, was convicted of felony. This may account for the change in spelling of the name, and explain why it became reasonably well recorded in London, as possibly members of the clan were forced to flee south. Examples of known recordings include John Wynes, christened at St Giles Cripplegate, London, on May 22nd 1579, George Wines, a witness at St Andrews Church, Holborn, on May 4th 1614, and James Wyness, at Oldtown in Balquhyne, Scotland in 1761. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.