Surname Viney - Meaning and Origin
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Viney: What does the surname Viney mean?
The surname Viney is of English origin and is derived from an Old English pre 7th Century nickname, "Vine", usually given to a person who lived in a place that was overgrown with vines, or who may have worked in a vineyard. The "-y" or "-ey" suffix is a diminutive form that is seen in many English surnames, which often indicates a family who lived in a small settlement or came from a small group. Therefore, Viney likely refers to a family from a small, vine-covered or vineyard location. This surname is common in southwestern England, especially in the state of Dorset. Like many surnames, regional variations exist based on local dialects and languages. As surnames had a functional role in medieval England - often describing occupations, personal characteristics or geographical locations - they vary greatly and can offer insight into family histories. It should be noted that while these origins are the most plausible, without individual family research, it's impossible to assert the exact historical meaning for every person with the surname Viney.
Order DNA origin analysisViney: Where does the name Viney come from?
The last name Viney is most commonly found in the United Kingdom today. It is derived from the Old English word, meaning “meadow.” This last name is most commonly found in the counties of Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, and Suffolk.
The Viney name can also be found in other parts of Europe and America. Vineys have migrated to other European countries, including Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and Denmark. Vineys can also be found throughout the United States, especially in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, California, and Florida.
The number of people bearing the last name Viney has remained stable in the United Kingdom over the centuries. According to the Office for National Statistics, approximately 14,900 people currently carry the last name Viney in England and Wales. It is estimated that about 17,400 people have the Viney last name in the United States.
Throughout the last name’s history, the family name has been associated with various trades and professions. Viney farmers, tailors, and merchants were all amongst the trades associated with the name. Viney has also been known for being a name associated with aristocracy, with families like the Vineys of Bath, Wiltshire, and Nottingham, England being of noble descent.
Today, the last name Viney remains a popular name throughout the United Kingdom. The earliest recorded version of the name dates back as far as the 13th century. It is still an excellent way to trace a family’s history across the centuries.
Variations of the surname Viney
The Viney surname has a couple of variants, spellings and associated surnames of the same origin.
The most common spelling of Viney is Van Veen, or Van Veene, derived from a Dutch surname meaning “from the vene (fen)”. This spelling also appears in records as Veen, Vene or Von Veen, with the latter connected to Prussian and German nobility. Viney is also related to Veens, Veins, Vain, Vains, Vaina, and Vaynes.
Variants of Viney also include Vinyard, Vivian, Vivyan, Vienne, Vyner, Venin, Vyer, Vienay, Vinnay, Veen, Vinay, Vinye, Vinyeh, Vynee, and Vynny.
Another spelling, often found in records from France, is Viena. This spelling was anglicized as Venia, the origin of the surname Venia (or Viena) which is found mainly in America.
The Scandinavian spelling of the name is Von Veen. This is the surname preceding most noble families in Germany and Scandinavia. Noteworthy bearers of this name include Poul von Veen, a Norwegian physician, and William Lafon Veen, a Dutch lawyer and judge.
The associated surnames of the same origin include Vaines, Villainy, V incorrectly as Vinn, Viner, Vivion, and Viners. The spelling Vien changed to the surname Vinet, which is a surname historically found in the Isle of Man, Scotland, France, Canada and the United States.
It should be remembered that all of these surnames can experience numerous spelling variations over time, so it is important to take this into account when researching genealogy.
Famous people with the name Viney
- Edgar Viney: a former professional English footballer who played in the Football League and scored 48 times in 305 appearances.
- Gerry Viney: an Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League (VFL) from 1967 to 1978.
- Elizabeth Viney: an American actress best known for her roles in the television shows Adventures in Wonderland and Smart Guy.
- Gina Collia-Viney: a renowned Australian flutist, classical guitarist and pianist.
- John Viney: a former professional English footballer who played as a right-sided wide-midfielder and made over 600 appearances in the Football League.
- Piers Viney: a British violinist and leader of the National Youth Orchestra.
- Sam Viney: a British rower who has competed in World Rowing Championships and won a bone-marrow transplant in 2008.
- Tim Viney: a former English rugby union footballer who played in the premiership, international champions cup and sevens series.
- William Henry Viney: a British entomologist and curator known for his work in entomology.
- Nick Viney: a British film and theatre director who has directed numerous films and plays, as well as created digital interactive technology and immersive experiences.