Surname Payne - Meaning and Origin

Payne: What does the surname Payne mean?

The surname Payne is of Old French origins, coming from the word "paien" which means pagan or someone who is not religious. The name was often given to children who were baptized later in life. It can also indirectly denote a person who is rustic or from the countryside, as Christianity came later to rural areas than to the cities under the Roman Empire. The name Payne was brought to England by the Normans after the invasion of 1066. There are several spelling variations of the name including Payn, Paine, Pagan, Pagon and many others. It is a patronymic surname, meaning it was derived from the father, indicating that the person named Payne was the "son of Payne." Like many other surnames, Payne could also be a locational surname, referring to someone who came from a location called Payne.

Payne: Where does the name Payne come from?

The last name Payne is commonly found throughout the United States today. According to the United States Census Bureau, the name ranked 181st in frequency among surnames as of the 2000 Census and is the most common Payne surname in America.

The majority of the Paynes live in the South and Eastern states such as Georgia, Virginia, and Texas. Other states where the name is commonly found include Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Indiana, West Virginia, and Maryland.

Payne is also a common last name in the United Kingdom and is the British equivalent of the French surname le Pain, meaning “the bread.” The name is most commonly found in England's Midlands region, although it has spread to other regions. Some areas where the name Payne is popular include Bristol, Cornwall, Lancashire, Essex, and Kent.

The other countries where the name Payne is found include Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Germany, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Uganda.

All in all, the Payne surname is one of the most widely found surnames today and is growing strong. As the population increases, so too should the frequency of the Payne name in all the countries of the world.

Variations of the surname Payne

The surname Payne is of English origin, derived from a nickname for a person with a fiery temper. Variants of this surname include Paine, Payn, Paines, Paynes, Paynter, Páin, Páinn and Payntar.

Payne is a patronymic name meaning "son of Payne," which is spelled in many different ways throughout history including Pane, Panne, Payen, Paganne and Pain.

The U.S. Civil War records show at least two men, Thomas "+Payne" and Mead "+Payne," who enlisted in the Confederate Army, and two men, William "+Pain" and John "+Payne" who enlisted in the Union Army. There is also evidence of the Payne surname in Ireland with one notable example being Thomas Paine, who was born in Cork in 1750 and went on to become a radical British pamphleteer.

In Wales, there is a variant spelling of Payne which goes by the name of Paynter. Similarly, in Scotland and the north of England, there is a variant spelling of the surname Payne, spelled Payntar or Painter.

In India, the Payne surname appears as a spelling variant of Páin or Páinn and is often used as a title of respect. There is also evidence of the Payne surname in other parts of the world including France, Germany, Italy and Sweden.

In summary, there are many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin as Payne. These variations include Paine, Payn, Paines, Paynes, Paynter, Páin, Páinn, Payntar, Pane, Panne, Payen, Paganne, Pain, Paynter, Payntar, Painter, and Painters.

Famous people with the name Payne

• Liam Payne: Former member of the British boy band, One Direction, and singer/songwriter.
• C.J. Payne: American actor and comedian best known for his work in television shows such as Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, The Parkers, Uncle Buck and Girlfriends.
• Nick Payne: Tony Award-winning English playwright.
• Cynthia Payne: English brothel-keeper and activist.
• John Payne: American actor famous for his roles in movie classics such as Miracle on 34th Street, Boom Town, and The Razor's Edge.
• Payne Stewart: American professional golfer who won four major championships between 1989 and 1999.
• Gene Payne: Award-winning American journalist, who founded the Arizona Republic newspaper in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
• Amanda Payne: Canadian actress and singer-songwriter who has a lead role in the movie, Goon.
• Phoebe Payne: American television reporter-anchor for the CBS affiliate in the Bronx, New York.
• Nathaniel Payne: British actor, best known for his roles in television series such as Sherlock.

Other surnames

PaynPaynelPaynter