Surname Hinely - Meaning and Origin
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Hinely: What does the surname Hinely mean?
The last name Hinely is of English origin and is derived from the Middle English personal name Hine, derived from the Olde English word “hine”, which could refer to either a servant, a young man, or a historical figure. As a name, it is thought to have originally been borne as a nickname, but later evolved into a hereditary surname.
Over time, Hinely would have been used to refer to a variety of individuals, such as those who were vassals or terrors to their lord; apprentices; men who lived near a hiningost (a place of refuge or shelter); and, most prominently, members of or those associated with the medieval honorific Hinely Law. This was an ancient British law that granted rights and privileges to serfs in the form of a franchise, often associated with military service.
Today, the surname Hinely is common in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the United States. While the original meaning has likely been lost to time, the name is still a testament to the varied and long-standing history of Anglo-Saxon surnames.
Order DNA origin analysisHinely: Where does the name Hinely come from?
The last name Hinely is most commonly associated with the United States, particularly in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia. It is believed to have originated in England as a variation of the surname Hinley, with the Anglican spelling eventually becoming condensed to the familiar Hinely spelling.
The highest concentration of individuals bearing the Hinely surname is in the state of Kentucky, where it is the 874th most common name. In Tennessee, the surname stands out as the 853rd most common, with Georgia following closely at 908th place.
Surname distributions maps indicate that some individuals bearing the name Hinely have migrated out of their ancestral states, in particular to the eastern and mid-western parts of the US, as well as to the south. There are also signs of some migration overseas, with small clusters of Hinelys also popping up in Canada, Australia and parts of Europe.
Overall, however, the surname remains particularly popular and synonymous with the American South.
Variations of the surname Hinely
The surname Hinely is a variant spelling of Henley, Hennly, Hennley, Handley, Hanley, Hanely, Hanly, Hansel, Henslee, and Hensely.
Hinely is an old English name taken from the prestigious Henley-on-Thames family of Oxfordshire. It is derived from the Olde Anglo-Saxon words hean, meaning high or proud, and ley, which means open space or clearing. The surname is believed to have been adopted by several families in the Middle Ages.
The most prevalent spelling of the name in Europe is Henley, which first appeared in an obscure Greek text from the 11th century. By the early 12th century, the name spread across England and Scotland, with notable references to the surname from Yorkshire and Ayrshire. In the United States, the spelling Hinely was adopted and became a popular Americanized variant.
Other variations of the surname from different countries include Handley, Hennly, Hennley, Hanley, Hanely, Hanly, Hansel, Henslee, and Hensely. All of these spellings originate from the same family and have a common origin.
The Hinely surname is also found in some Germanic, Dutch, French, and Jewish families. It is often spelled Handel, Handelstein, Handelman, Hennell, Handelman, Hennele, and Hennell, in these countries.
Famous people with the name Hinely
- Ashley Hinely, American country music singer
- Pi Hinely, Irish theatre producer
- Isaac Hinely, American poet and scriptwriter
- Roy Hinely, Canadian ice hockey player
- Henrietta Hinely, English explorer and expert on Lepidopterology
- Elmer Hinely, American baseball player
- Jerome Hinely, American actor
- Avri Hinely, American boxer
- David Hinely, American jazz singer
- Matilda Hinely, American medical researcher