Probyn
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Probyn Genealogy
The name Probyn is of Welsh origin. It comes from the Welsh “ap Robin,” meaning son of Robin. Many “P” origin surnames come from the same roots. The transition to English-type surnames happened much later in Wales than it did in England. The complex nomenclature of “son of/son of” etc in the Welsh form continued until well into the late sixteenth century. Thus we have, in a deed transaction recorded in 1575 in Llanrwst, the purchaser being Robert ap Thomas ap Howell ap Robyn, an interesting mix of English and Welsh names in a Welsh style.
Wales. Under the English influence, ap Robyn began to translate into Probyn, Probin, Proby, and other variants, first in the border counties and later in the Welsh heartlands. There was a Probyn family of some repute that held lands and estates in north Wales, as well as across the border at Oldcastle near Malpas in Cheshire. The Probin spelling has persisted in north Wales, in Cheshire and elsewhere. But generally Probyn has become the standard form.
England. In England, the largest concentration of Probyns has been in Gloucestershire. Probyns can be traced to Newland near the Forest of Dean from 1570. A Probyn family were tanners there over six generations. Additional Probyn bases were established in Gloucestershire when Sir Edmund Probyn in 1740 acquired the Longhope manor on the road to Ross-on-Wye and the Huntley manor a little to the north in Newent. There were Probyns also across the border in present-day Gwent.
Some Probyns migrated to London. Sir Edmund Probyn made his name there in law, Sir Dighton Probyn in the army, and Sir Leslie Probyn in the diplomatic service.
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Sir Edmund Probyn was a whig lawyer, a Judge of the King’s Bench, and Chief Baron of the Exchequer in the 1720’s and 1730’s.
John Probin of London and Birmingham was gunmaker to the Prince of Wales, later George IV.
Sir Dighton Probyn was the dashing captain in the English army when the Indian mutiny erupted in 1857. His gallantry in the fighting won him a VC. He advanced to the rank of general and subsequently became a court figure (handling the delicate affairs of the Prince of Wales).
Sir Leslie Probyn was British Governor of Sierra Leone in West Africa in the early 1900’s. A guardsman at his official residence named his son, who later became President of the country, Siaka Probyn Stevens.
Jeff Probyn was a tight end prop in the English rugby team in the 1980’s and 1990’s.
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The name Probyn is of Welsh origin. It comes from the Welsh “ap Robin,” meaning son of Robin. Many “P” origin surnames come from the same roots. The transition to English-type surnames happened much later in Wales than it did in England. The complex nomenclature of “son of/son of” etc in the Welsh form continued until well into the late sixteenth century. Thus we have, in a deed transaction recorded in 1575 in Llanrwst, the purchaser being Robert ap Thomas ap Howell ap Robyn, an interesting mix of English and Welsh names in a Welsh style.
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- Probyns in Newland. History of the Ostrich Inn.
Wales. Under the English influence, ap Robyn began to translate into Probyn, Probin, Proby, and other variants, first in the border counties and later in the Welsh heartlands. There was a Probyn family of some repute that held lands and estates in north Wales, as well as across the border at Oldcastle near Malpas in Cheshire. The Probin spelling has persisted in north Wales, in Cheshire and elsewhere. But generally Probyn has become the standard form.
England. In England, the largest concentration of Probyns has been in Gloucestershire. Probyns can be traced to Newland near the Forest of Dean from 1570. A Probyn family were tanners there over six generations. Additional Probyn bases were established in Gloucestershire when Sir Edmund Probyn in 1740 acquired the Longhope manor on the road to Ross-on-Wye and the Huntley manor a little to the north in Newent. There were Probyns also across the border in present-day Gwent.
Some Probyns migrated to London. Sir Edmund Probyn made his name there in law, Sir Dighton Probyn in the army, and Sir Leslie Probyn in the diplomatic service.
Select Probyn Miscellany
If you would like to read more, click on the miscellany page for
further stories and accounts:
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Sir Edmund Probyn was a whig lawyer, a Judge of the King’s Bench, and Chief Baron of the Exchequer in the 1720’s and 1730’s.
John Probin of London and Birmingham was gunmaker to the Prince of Wales, later George IV.
Sir Dighton Probyn was the dashing captain in the English army when the Indian mutiny erupted in 1857. His gallantry in the fighting won him a VC. He advanced to the rank of general and subsequently became a court figure (handling the delicate affairs of the Prince of Wales).
Sir Leslie Probyn was British Governor of Sierra Leone in West Africa in the early 1900’s. A guardsman at his official residence named his son, who later became President of the country, Siaka Probyn Stevens.
Jeff Probyn was a tight end prop in the English rugby team in the 1980’s and 1990’s.
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