This is a variant spelling of the Olde English personal compound name of the pre 7th Century "Sigenod", comprising the element "Sige" meaning victory and "Nod" - brave. The modern surname can be spelt in several ways including Siney, Sinney, Sinnie and Sanney. Oddly enough the name is probably more popular today in Ireland than England, being apparently first recorded there among the gentry in counties Westmeath, Kildare and Offaly circa 1610. The name recording and development includes Jacob Synney christened at Sunbury on Thames (September 7th 1579), Edward Synai who was a witness in London, also in 1579 and Mary Siney who married John West at St. James, Dukes Place, London on June 25th 1693. In Ireland the following entries are found in church records; Anne, daughter of William and Elizabeth Sanney was christened at St. Catherines, Dublin on April 16th 1720, while here also the son of one William Sany was christened on December 9th 1712; William son of James and Bridget Siney was baptised at Mountmellick, Queens (now Laois). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Sygemay, which was dated 1275, The Pipe Rolls of Wakefield, Yorkshire, during the reign of King Edward 1, known as 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.