An English surname of Payne comes from the French written as Payen and Payens. There is a region in France named Payns. The Latin form of Payne was ‘paganus’ which refers to a countryman. The Old English form was spelled ‘paien’.

Other spellings for Payne include Payn, Pagon, Pain, Fitzpayn, Payan, Paynes, Pagan and Paines.

The regions of London and counties to the south of the city have many families with the Payne surname. Also further north into Lancashire and Yorkshire are Payne individuals. The greatest concentration in Scotland of Payne families is the southern half, mostly in Lanarkshire, Midlothian, Dumfries-shire and Kirkcudbrightshire.

Within the United States the surname of Payne is founded primarily in Texas, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, California, New York and Pennsylvania.

Famous: David L. Payne (19th century pioneer settler and politician in Oklahoma), Ethel L. Payne (journalist), John Payne (actor), Kevin Payne (professional boxer), Sam Payne (singer from Denmark), Tim Payne (rugby player of England), King Payne (early 19th century chief of the Seminole tribe), John Payne (English poet) and Bruce Payne (actor in England).