There was an archived query about the origins of the forename of ZINZAN. A couple of prominent New Zealand sportsmen have this name including Zinzan
Brooke (All Black Rugby Union great),
Chris Zinzan
Harris (New Zealand Test and one-day Cricketer), and
Chris Harris' father Zin
Harris (Parke
Gerald Zinzan
Harris) who also played Test Cricket.
The name comes from a surname, from a family from
London, and from
Devon in England. Some of the Zinzan family migrated to New Zealand in the mid 19th Century.
I have read that it was originally a variation of an Italian surname, Zinzanni.
One of my relatives,
Ann Elizabeth Edwards, married
Robert Comport Zinzan in 1837 in
Devon. I believe that Zinzan
Brooke and
Chris Harris are descended from them.
Regards,
Ian,
Sydney, Australia