This rare and unusual name derives from the Olde English pre 7th century 'Scinn or Scynn' meaning a preparer of skins - a metonymic for a skinner. The name development has been from Scinner as shown in the first recording to Geoffrey Le Skinnere (1296, Sussex) to John Schynnere (1305 Hampshire) this being the origination of the current spelling. However the name is also found in Scotland as Shinie (the son of Scinn), Alexander Shinie being an Aberdeen soapmaker in 1785. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Le Scinner which was dated 1279 The Hundred Rolls of Oxford during the reign of King Edward 1 The Hammer of the Scots 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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