The Lynam Name
English: habitational name from places in Devon, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire named Lynam, from Old English lin ‘flax’ + ham ‘homestead’ or hamm ‘enclosure hemmed in by water’.
Some sources have it as Irish in origin as an anglicisation of the Old Irish name Ó Laigheanáin, which means "someone from Laighean" in Leinster.
The earliest we can trace the Derbyshire Lynam family back to is William Lynam 1525-1585. The Derbyshire Lynams were from the North Wingfield, Pilsley, Danesmoor, Ainsmoor area in North East Derbyshire. There is some evidence that originally the family came from Nottinghamshire linked to the Foljambe family. They were in Nottinghamshire with the Foljambes in 1216-1272 as recorded in the Estate papers for the grant of land to Worksop Church.
In Nottingham archives: Dated 1216-1272 (Temp Henry 111) Title Deed Osberton Notts ref DD/FJ/1/24/10 Foljambe of Osberton Deeds estate papers Grant of Land undated Thomas de Chawrch (Chaworth?) to Canons of Worksop.
To all Christ's faithful seeing or hearing this writing Thomas de Chawrch (Chaworth?) sends greetings to the Lord
That I have given, granted, and by this present deed confirmed.
To God and the Church of the Blessed Mary and the Blessed Cuthbert at Worksop and to the Canons serving the Lord in the same place.
Two bovates of land with appurtenances in Osberton
Of which William son of Lewys formerly held one, and Adam formerly held.
Of which one lies between the toft of Robert Child on the western side and the toft of Reginald de Hulemer on the eastern side, and the toft of Ede de Bampton on the southern side.
To have and to hold the said Canons and all their successors in free, pure and perpetual alms.
With all the appurtenances, liberties and easements whatsoever appertaining or correctly able to appertain to them, with any retentions.
And I, Thomas de Chawrch and whosoever my heirs and assigns, and the heirs of the same, will by all means, in all matters, warrant, acquit and defend the said two bovates of land, with the said two tofts, with the buildings and all things in the same, with all and all manner other the appurtenances, liberties, and easements whatsoever appertaining or correctly able to appertain to them, for ever, with any retentions, within the vill of Osberton and without, to the said Canons and all their successors, in our free, pure and perpetual alms, against all men for ever.
In Witness whereof I have affixed my seal to the present writing.
These being Witness
Sir Thomas de Furnival
Sir Gerard de Hedon
Sir Robert de Mortoyn
Sir Thomas de Hayton
Knights:
Stephen Maulunet
WILLIAM DE LYNAM
Richard de Furneus of Carlton
Thomas son of Hugh the same
Richard de Scirape
and others
Portland of Welbeck Cavendish Papers ref DD/P/CD/42 Notts archives Quit Claim on property in Sulkhome nr Warsop Notts (present day as Sookholme) dates 4th June 1430 reign of Henry 6th
To all to whom the present letters may come, William de Shirbroke of Pleasley and Agnes my wife send greeting.
May your world know that we have remised, released, and utterly and for ever quitclaimed, to William de Schawe of Sookholme.
Our right and claim which we now have, did have, or may in any way be able to have.
In all those lands and tenements, with their appurtenances, in the vill and fields of Sookholme, which descends to me, the aforenamed William, by right of inheritance, after the death of Thomas Schirbroke, my father.
Such that neither we, the aforenamed William and Agnes, nor our heirs, nor any other person in our name, may be able in the future, from now on, to exact or sell any right and claim in the aforesaid lands and tenements with their appurtenances, but are for ever excluded from all actions, rights and claims.
In Witness whereof we have affixed our seals to this present writing.
These being Witnesses
Ralph Scuffin (could be Stuffin)
Thomas Richardson of Shirbrook
WILLIAM LYNAM OF SOOKHOLME
Richard Bussely of Warsop
John Turner of the same
and many others
Given at Sookholme on the feast of Pentecost in the eighth year of the reign of the Sixth King Henry after the conquest of England
NORTH WINGFIELD
In the Doomsday Book it is written as Winnefelt, included in the Manor of Pillsley ( Pinnesley) a Church and a priest, Deanery of Chesterfield, Hamlets of Williamsthorpe (Wilemstorpe) Pilsley, Stretton, Ford, Hanley, Clay Cross, Tupton, Woodthorpe, and Ainmoor. There were 1335 inhabitants at Doomsday.
1581 Sir Godfrey Foljamebe, Knight paid 8/- at Chesterfield and Scarsdale. The rents for a year were Pilsley 10s 1d and North Wingfield 16d. Evidence suggests that the Lynams came with him from Nottinghamshire to Derbyshire.