Wynne Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Wynne Family History

Wynne Family History

The ancient origin of the name Wynne was found in the irishsurnames.com archives.

Surnames developed a wide number of variants over the centuries. Many different spelling variations of the same name can be traced back to a single original root. Also, when a bearer of a name emigrated from Ireland it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books upon arrival at their new location. Some names have dozens of spelling variations. Some Surnames were also altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically, by their sound, and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another. This was especially so in Ireland where most Gaelic names were 'anglicized' at some stage.

Variants of the name Wynne include Gahan, Gaughan, Gavaghan, Geehan, Guihen, McGeehan, McGahan, Wynn and Mulgeehy. This name in Irish is O'Gaibhtheachain and the latter variants are the anglicized form of this. This sept was from Connacht, Mayo, Roscommon and Donegal.

A sept or clan is a collective term describing a group of persons whose immediate ancestors bore a common surname and inhabited the same territory. It is also the case that many Irish septs or clans that are related often belong to a larger groups, sometimes called tribes. For example the 'Tribes of Galway' consisted of fourteen distinct families. The 'Tribes of Kilkenny' were ten families, etc.

The first of the name were a branch of the Hy Fiachrach who possessed territory near Crossmolina in County Mayo. They were Chiefs of Calry in the barony of Tirawley. A second sept were called O'Gaoithin with their name being anglicized as Geehan, Guihen and Gahan, they being located in Roscommon. A third sept from Donegal were called O'Gaoithin with their name being anglicized as McGeehan, Mageean and Wynne. Welsh immigrants called Gwynn also sometimes changed their name to Wynne.The Wynne family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Wynne descendants.