Hines History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The history of the name Hines dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from a member of the family who worked as a keeper of the deer. The surname Hines originally derived from the Old English word “hinde” which referred to someone who tended the deer. A quote from Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales underlines the occupation: Ther n’as baillif, ne herde, ne other hine.

Early Origins of the Hines family

The surname Hines was first found in Oxfordshire, where one of the first on record was Robert Hine who was Lord of the manor and held estates in that shire in the year 1254. John le Hyne was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 in Oxford, and Robert le Hine was listed in Suffolk in the same rolls. The Writs of Parliament of 1313 show Stephen le Hine. [1]

Early History of the Hines family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hines research.

Hines Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Hines has undergone many spelling variations, including Hines, Hine, Hyne, Hynes and others.

Early Notables of the Hines family (pre 1700)

Notables of this surname at this time include: William Hine (1687-1730), English organist and composer, born at Brightwell, Oxfordshire, in 1687. He was chorister of Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1694, and clerk in 1705. “In 1711 or 1712 Hine became organist of Gloucester Cathedral, and shortly afterwards married Alicia.

Hines Ranking

In the United States, the name Hines is the 337^th most popular surname with an estimated 79,584 people with that name. [2]

 Migration of the Hines family to Ireland

Some of the Hines family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Hines migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Hines were among those contributors: 

Hines Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• William Hines, who landed in Virginia in 1629 [3]

Hines Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• James Hines, who settled in Boston in 1716
• John Hines, who arrived in New England in 1724 [3]

Hines Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Jane Hines, aged 22, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 [3]
• Martin Hines, who arrived in Maryland in 1812 [3]
• Felix Hines, aged 22, who landed in New York in 1812 [3]
• Sarah Hines, aged 25, who arrived in America in 1822 [3]
• Patrick Hines, who landed in Mississippi in 1840 [3]

Hines Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Joseph, Hines Sr., who arrived in Wisconsin in 1909 [3]

 Hines migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Hines Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Thomas Hines, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
• Mr. Benjamin Hines U.E., “Baker” who settled in Canada c. 1784 [4]

Hines Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Philip Hines, settled at Holyrood Head, Newfoundland in 1801 [5]
• William Hines, who landed in Bay Bulls, Newfoundland in 1803 [5]
• Pat Hines, who settled in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland in 1808
• John Hines from County Tipperary, Ireland was married in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1809 [5]
• David Hines, aged 27, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1838 aboard the schooner “Susan Jane” from Ballyshannon, Ireland

 Hines migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: 

Hines Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Thomas Hines, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Charles Kerr” on 6th June 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [6]
• Mr. John Hines, English farm labourer who was convicted in South Holland (Holland), Lincolnshire, England for 14 years for house breaking, transported aboard the “Earl Grey” on 27th July 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [7]
• Mr. John Hines, English convict who was convicted in Suffolk, England for 14 years, transported aboard the “Augusta Jessie” on 10th August 1838, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen’s Land) [8]
• Robert Hines, aged 38, a mason, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship “Magdelana” [9]
• Michael Hines, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship “Duchess of Northumberland”

 Hines migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: 

Hines Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Miss Mary Hines, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship “Sir George Pollock” arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand in January 1863 [10]
• Robert Hines, aged 22, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Rooparell” in 1874
• Emily C. Hines, aged 20, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Rooparell” in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Hines (post 1700) +

• James Ray “Jim” Hines OLY (1946-2023), American track and field athlete and National Football League (NFL) player who held the 100-meter world record for 15 years
• Benjamin Thortan “Ben” Hines (1935-2021), American Major League Baseball coach, Los Angeles Dodgers Hitting Coach (1988-1993)
• Gerald D. Hines (1925-2020), American founder and chairman of Hines, a privately held real estate firm with its headquarters located in Houston, Texas
• Glen Ray Hines (1943-2019), American All-Pro (AFL) and NCAA All-American football player
• Harris Hines (1943-2018), American jurist, Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court (2017–2018)
• General John Leonard Hines (1868-1968), American soldier who served as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army from 1924 to 1926, awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1918 [11]
• Charles A. Hines (1935-2013), American Army Major General, Commander of Fort McClellan (1989–1994)
• Brigadier-General Charles Hines (1888-1966), American Commanding General Anti-Aircraft Artillery, 3rd Army (1944-1945) [12]
• Duncan Hines (1880-1959), American pioneer of restaurant ratings for travelers
• Pamela Hines (b. 1962), American jazz pianist [13]