A brief history
Ethnicity: Welsh
Variations: Gwinn, Gwynne, Gwin, Gwine, Gwinne, Gwyn, Gwynn, Gwinnett, Gwynett, Gwyyns, Wynne, Wyn, Wynn, and others.
Origins:
The surname Gwinn goes back to Wales and to the Gwydir Castle. Gwinn, and other related family names, are all derivatives of the original name of Gwynedd (which is pronounced "Gooineth").
Gwynedd is derived from Welsh gwyn "white" or "fair hair" or "fair complexion"; it was first used as a personal name. The name Gwinn has sometimes been given the meaning "People of Pale Skin." Given that I happen to sunburn EXTREMELY easily, this I believe.
Important "Gwinns":
The earliest known "Gwin" who came to America was Capt. Owin Gwynn, Esq. son of Sir John Wynn of the Wynn family of the Gwydir Castle, Wales in 1611. His son Col. Hugh Gwynne was the first to permanently settle in the US. Owin returned to Gwydir Castle when his father died to succeed to the baronetcy. (Gwinn, 1961).
Captain John Gwinn was commander of the U.S.S. Constitution from 1848 to 1849. Captain Gwinn took the U.S.S. Constitution as a "ship of state" on a tour of the Mediterranean in an effort to protect U.S. economic interests and citizens. The ship was toured by King Ferdinand II of Sicily and Pope Pius IX. Captain Gwinn died at Messina on September 4, 1849.
References
- Gwin, Jesse Blaine (1961). History of the Gwin Family". Fairfax, Va.
- Ship of State. Fredricksburg Historical Prints.
- U.S.S. Constitution Former Commanding Officers
- Welsh Names and Meanings.