This interesting surname, which is chiefly found in the East Anglia region, is a variant of "Vincent", an English and French surname deriving from a medieval personal name, from the Latin name "Vincentius", a derivative of "vincere", to conquer. The personal name was borne by a 3rd Century Spanish martyr widely venerated in the Middle Ages, and by a 5th Century monk and writer of Lerins, and by other early saints. In Eastern Europe it was popular in honour of Wincenty Kadlubek (deceased 1223), a bishop of Cracow and an early chronicler, especially venerated in Silesia. The personal name is recorded as "Vincencius" in the Curia Rolls of Norfolk in 1206, while one William Vincent, the first recorded bearer of the surname "Vincent", is mentioned in 1230, in the Cartulary of Oseney Abbey. Early examples of the surname include the christening of Margareta Vince in 1580, at St. Stephen's Church, Norwich; and the marriage of Elizabeth Vince and Andrew Nurse in 1641 at West Dereham, Norfolk. Samuel Vince (1749 - 1821), a bricklayer, became a notable mathematician and astronomer, and Fellow of the Royal Society from 1786. He was also appointed archdeacon of Bedford in 1809. The Coat of Arms most associated with the Vincent family depicts three silver quatrefoils on a blue field with the Motto "Vincenti dabitur": It shall be given to the Conqueror. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Vince, which was dated September 20th 1562, marriage to Joane Bottwrighte, at Fressingfield, in Suffolk, 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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