This interesting and most unusual surname is of Scottish locational origin from places called Kininmonths in Fife, one in the parish of Monimail, the other near Pitscottie. About 1189 - 1199, William the Lion, ruler of Scotland, confirmed to Odo Marescallus (Odo the marshal), a charter of the lands of Kynninmonth, which had been granted by the prior of St. Andrews. The original form of the surname is first recorded in the early 13th Century (see below), while other early recordings include: Helya de Kynninmond, who witnessed a charter of lands in 1290; William de Kynemuthe of Edinburghshire, who rendered homage in 1296; Alexander de Kinnemunt, canon of Brechin in 1322, archdeacon of Lothian in 1327 and elected bishop of Aberdeen; and Alexander de Kyninmund, who was elected to the same bishopric in 1356. The name was probably introduced into the north of Ireland by Scottish settlers during the time of the Ulster plantations, where it is found today as Cinnamonth, Cinamond and Sinnamond. In Scotland the old family of the name terminated early in the 18th Century in an heiress, Grissel, who married Sir William Murray of Melgund. Henry Cinnamon married Margaret McNeill on December 10th 1785, at St. Ann's, Belfast, Antrim, while William Cinnamond married Mary Hood on September 7th 1823, at Carnmoney, County Antrim. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Elias de Kinindmund, a charter witness, which was dated 1228, in the "Calendar of the Laing Charters, 854 - 1837", during the reign of King Alexander 11 of Scotland, 1214 - 1249. 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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