Viney Family History
Viney Surname Meaning
English (Hampshire and Wiltshire) is derived from one or more of the minor places called with Middle English fin-hawe ‘wood-heap enclosure’ (Old English fīn-haga) such as Viney's Wood in Crundale (Kent), Vinehall in Mountfield (Sussex), and the lost Vinals Farm in Cuckfield (also Sussex).
Pronunciation of initial f- as /v/ was common in medieval Surrey, Sussex, and Kent. This linguistic variation reflects an interesting aspect of the evolution of the English language in these regions.
Another example includes Venhay in Rose Ash (Devon), which is named from Old English fenn ‘marsh’ + (ge)hæg ‘enclosure’. This indicates the diverse geographical features that have influenced local naming conventions.
Moreover, the pronunciation of initial f- as /v/ is typical of the Devon dialect, showcasing how regional accents can shape the way place names are spoken.
The interplay between language, geography, and dialect reveals much about the history and culture of areas like Hampshire, Wiltshire, Surrey, Sussex, and Devon.
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022