Lownes

This unusual surname, now widespread in Norfolk, is of early medieval English origin, and is a patronymic form of the name Loyne or Lowne, itself coming from the Middle English male given name "Lovin", ultimately from the Olde English pre 7th Century "Leofhun", a compound of the elements "leof", dear, beloved, and "hun", bear cub. Pre 7th Century Anglo-Saxon and Old Norse personal names were usually distinct compounds, whose elements were often associated with the Gods of Fire, Water and War, or composed of disparate elements. On May 28th 1556, Hew, son of John Lowne, was christened at Marsham, Norfolk, and on February 20th 1596, the christening of Elizabeth Lownes, an infant, took place at St. Bride's, Fleet Street, London. The final "s" on the name indicates the genitive, and is a reduced form of "son of". In the modern idiom patronymics of Lowne include: Lownes, Lowndes, Loynes, Loines, Loins and Loyns. On May 11th 1655, Rose Loynes and Thomas Church were married at St. Giles', Norwich, Norfolk, and on November 4th 1849, Ann, daughter of John and Ann Loynes, was christened at Fylingdales, Yorkshire. A Coat of Arms granted to the family is a shield divided quarterly gold and black with a red cinquefoil on the first and fourth quarters, the Crest being a hydra proper. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Jone Loynes, which was dated February 12th 1585, marriage to Francis Goodwin, at Hemblington, Yorkshire, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.