The Payne family originated from the Berkshire / Oxfordshire borders with our eldest identified ancestor Samuel Pain being born at the start of the 18th century. Our ancestors have been known to have used three spelling of their name Pain / Paine / Payne, with the adoption of the latter just over a hundred years ago.
The Payne line arrived in London at the end of the 19th century when our ancestor Henry James Payne moved there in search of work. Henry James Payne was living at the same address as the Roper family when his first wife died; this is probably where he met his second wife Charlotte Roper. It was their daughter Rose who married into the Wood family.
Other key families who are our ancestors and are linked to the Payne’s are: the Ambrose family from Caversham, Oxfordshire whom our earliest ancestor John Paine joined, marrying Elizabeth. Our earliest ancestors here are Elizabeth’s parents William Ambrose and Mary Read from Caversham, Oxfordshire, who married in 1744. Our ancestral line stretches further back with Mary’s parents Anne and John Read. The Crockford family also come from Caversham, Oxfordshire and are linked by the marriage of our eldest ancestor Samuel to Sarah in 1728. Little is known about this family.
No distant relatives of this family have been traced.
The names Alfred, John, Samuel, Stephen and William are most common for the males and Elizabeth, Mary and Sarah are the most used for the females.
Gillard / Wood Family History 