Recorded as Caines, Cains, Kaines and Keynes, this is an English surname but one ultimately of Norman-French pre 10th century origins. Almost certainly introduced by followers of Duke William orf Normandy, when he conquered England in 1066, it is a locational surname originating from either the town of Cahaignes in the departement of Eure, or from the similiarly named Cahagnes in the departement of Calvados. First recorded in the famous Domesday Book of 1086 in several counties including Cambridge, Berkshire, Northampton, and Sussex, it is clear that nameholders played a prominent part in the Invasion, and were greatly rewarded with land grants in all these counties. The first recording is probably that of William de Cahaignes of Cambridge in 1086, but there are other claimants. The name development continued down the ages with William de Caynes of Northumberland appearing in the rolls known as the "Curia Regis" in the year 1222, and John de Kaynnes of Buckinghamshire, in the Hundred Rolls of 1273. Early nameholders gave their name to the villages of Keynes Court in Wiltshire in about 1350, and both Combe Keynes and Winkley Keynes in Devonshire in about the same period. John Maynard Keynes (1883 - 1946) and the 1st Baron Keynes, played a major part in the development of mid 20th century economics, and in the USA is said to have greatly influenced President Roosevelts "New Deal" adminstration of the pre Second World War period.

© Copyright: Name Origin Research 1980 - 2024