The Chinn family's origins are unclear. Rawleigh Chinn (1684-1741), the earliest traced ancestor of the Chinn family, lived in Virginia by early 1700s, and he may have emigrated from England. Rawleigh Chinn owned a 3300-acre tract of land in northern Virginia which was later sold to Leven Powell (1737-1810), the founder of Middleburg, Virginia. Rawleigh's wife, Esther Ball (1685-1751), is purported to be the sister of Mary Ball (1708-1789), the mother of George Washington (1732-1799). The Chinns lived in the northern Virginia area for centuries, although various members of the family left Virginia to seek their fortunes out West. In 1850, the Chinn and Noland families were joined when Lucy Tarpley Chinn (ca. 1828-1911) married William Noland (n.d.).

The Noland family's origins appear to be Irish, and the original spelling of the name was Nowland. It is unclear when the spelling changed. Pierce Nowland (1650-1712) emigrated from Ireland to Maryland in 1686, and later moved to Virginia. The Nolands married into prominent families in the area, such as the Powell and the Aubrey families. The Nolands distinguished themselves in military service during the Revolutionary War and in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Major William Noland (1775-1855) also reportedly saved the life of President John Tyler (1790-1862), helped to found the town of Aldie, built the first bridge across the Potomac River, and helped to build one of the first canals in the state.