It is probably not surprising that this is one of the rarest names on the British register, as its origin is equally rare. It derives from the French locational name "Seine", and refers to one who lived in that part of France. Most of todays name holders descend from various Huguenot refugees of the 17th Century, although the earliest recording, as shown, suggests that there will have been an earlier entry. During the mid to late 17th Century thousands of French Huguenots fled to England and other countries, to escape religious persecution on the continent, especially after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis X1V in 1685. The original spelling in France was "Sains", the Coat of Arms being three black lions rampant on a gold field. Amongst the recordings are Peirre Sayens, christened at the Threadneedle Street Huguenot Church, London in 1643, and Isabella Sines who married Edward Howe at St. James's Church, Clerkenwell on December 19th 1681. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ann Saines, which was dated February 15th 1589, christened at the Church of St. Nicholas Acons, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. 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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