(If it's in red and underlined then it's a link to more information)

The spelling of the surname Fynn has always been a source of confusion except to those whose name it was...

Actually, my research shows that it has also been a issue for those who have borne the name!

FYNN -v- FINN -v- FENN. 

Whilst examining the parish records for Great Wilbraham, we found that Robert Fynn and Mary Fynn (nee Coldham), the parents of John 'Porter' Fynn, married in that village as bachelor and spinster botp (both of this parish). Their first three children were baptised FENN. But then John was baptised FYNN. Just to be certain, I have searched for a marriage of a Robert FENN to a Mary for 10 years either side but I can only find Robert FYNN and Mary Coldham’s marriage on 12^th February 1771. I had had this horrible feeling that we might all have been FENNs to become FYNNs by default of a priest’s spelling! 

In the same vein, and as I have mentioned before, the '‘parallel family" of Benjamin FINN/FYNN also shows two spellings.  Most records show Benjamin marrying Elizabeth Coe in St Botolphs on 25^th July 1805 and the name is spelt FINN. I have examined the parish record to find that it actually says: FINN (born and baptised FYNN) Benjamin (X) and Elisabeth Coe botp. Witness: Thos. Lupson (No second witness). The ‘X’ after Benjamin indicates that he ‘made his mark’ as opposed to signing his name. So it is not surprising that the surname was mis-spelt. Go to Other Fynns  for more information on Benjamin Fynn and his family.

I have found that other of our forebears are recorded as both FYNN and FINN. Another example can be found with one of John Fynn's sons.  The 1841 census has no record of Robert Fynn, born 1814, but when I searched under FINN, I found that a Robert and Mary FINN lived in St Botolph with a 3 month old daughter Mary (see Extracts of 1841 Census). The 1851 census later shows Robert and Mary back as being FYNNs! Mary is now Mary E. Fynn and is 10 years old. Other children are recorded as: Emma (7 yrs.), Charles (6 yrs.), Sarah Sophia (2 yrs.) and Robert John (7 mths.). The family had moved to St Andrew the Great (see Extracts of 1851 Census). See also Robert Fynn  for more detail of Robert Fynn's family.

Page last updated 29th May 2010