Sphinxe

This interesting surname of England origin derives from the Medieval English "Spink" meaning a Chaffinch and originally given as a nickname to one thought to have borne a fancied resemblance to the bird or perhaps to one with an attractive singing voice. The surname is first recorded in the early half of the 12th Century, (see below). One, Thomas Spink, witness, appears in the 1356, Assize Court Rolls of Northumberland. The name with variant spellings Spincke, Spinke, Sphinxe, Spincks etc., is well recorded in London Church Registers from the mid 16th Century. One Lidia Spincks was christened on December 12th 1624 at St. Katherine by the Tower, London, William, son of Michaell Spincks was christened on March 19th 1653 at St. John's, Hackney and Elizabeth, daughter of John and Anne Spinks was christened at St. Giles, Cripplegate London on April 26th 1657. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Roger Spinc, which was dated circa 1133, in the "Cartualry of Ramsey Abbey", Bedfordshire, during the reign of King Henry 1, known as the Lion of Justice, 1100 - 1135. 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.