My earliest known CAINE forebear, a JOHN CAINE of Bishop’s Demesne, Kirk Michael, in all records relating to him after 1702, has the word FILLOIN, FILOWN, FILLOWN, and similar variations, added to his name. I would like to enlist the help of anyone whose research involves the Isle of Man parish registers, births, marriages or deaths, using the complete register entries on microfilm, NOT the IGI listings which are abbreviated.

The meaning of the word Filloin is not known. It is thought not to be the name of a locality, nor an occupational description, but it might be a nickname, perhaps based on some physical peculiarity. However, if this last possibility were the case, the peculiarity must have been virtually unique as only one other case, that of William Staen, (or Steon meaning Stephen), has turned up, in a burial record of 22 October 1689 at Kirk Michael, with the word FILN added, possibly as an abbreviation of Filloin. Another possible explanation of FILLOIN might be that it signified "John Son of John" from the Latin FIL, which occurs in some earlier Register entries and means "Son of", and OIN, a Manx form of John. However, there must have been a multitude of Johns who were sons of John who did not merit the description Filloin.

The occurrences of Filloin or its variations which have come to light are as follows -

1711 Margt., daughter of John Cain Filown (Bishop's Domain), March 28. (A baptism at Ballaugh).

1713 Thos., son of John Cain (filown) Bishop's Demesne. Nov. 4th. (A baptism at Ballaugh).

1713 / 1714 A dau of John Cain (Fillown) Bps Demesne was buried at Kk Michael 24 Jan. ( A Ballaugh entry of an event at Kirk Michael)

1715 Ellen, daughter of John Cain, ffilown of the Bishop's Demesne, baptized July 3rd. (A baptism at Ballaugh).

1724 / 1725 John Caine (Filloin) of ye Bishop's Demesne Jan 7 (A burial at Kirk Michael).

1724 Jon Cain (Filliown) of the Lord Bishop's Demesne buried at Kirk Michael. Dec 7th. (A Ballaugh entry of an event at Michael with an incorrect date.)

1742 A child of Jon Caine Fillonise - Sod Die 11 Dec. (A burial at Kirk Michael)

I would be grateful if anyone coming across such an entry, including FILN which may be a shortened form of Filloin etc. would let me have the details of the entry.