Recorded in several forms as shown below, this is now arguably an Anglo-French surname but definately one of medieval French origins. It is locational from either the village of Quincy-sous-Senart in the departement of Seine-et-Oise, or Quincy-Voisins in Seine-et-Marne, or Cuinchy in the Pas-de-Calais. All derive their names from the pre 3rd century Gallo-Roman personal name Quintas, meaning fifth born, and the name of a famous Roman clan. The surname was introduced into England by followers of Duke William of Normandy at the time of the Conquest of England in 1066, the surname being one of the earliest recorded anywhere in the world. In the modern idiom the surname spellings include de Quincey, Quince, Quincey, Quinsee, Quinsey and others. Amongst the early recordings are those of Henri de Quenci in the Danelaw Documents of England in 1154, whilst from the church registers we have Bennet Quince who married Thomas Gee on December 14th 1592, at St. Dunstan's Stepney. The English writer Thomas de Quincey (1785 - 1859), was born in Manchester, to a family who in the 13th century held the earldom of Winchester. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Saer de Quincy. This was dated 1153 - 1163, in the records of the Knight Templars (Crusaders). Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes 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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