Show ContentsMin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Min family

The surname Min was first found in Bedfordshire (Old English: Bedanfordscir), where the first record of the family was the singular Minna, listed here in the Assize Rolls of 1202. Over one hundred years later, Gostelynus Mynne was found in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327. [1]

"This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Min.' There is some evidence in favour of an old personal name Min, which was probably a nick. Minnie is still used as a girl's pet name for Emmeline. " [2]

Another researcher agrees: "This series seems to point to Minn, (the same as Mynn) as an ancient personal name." [3]

Early History of the Min family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Min research. Another 217 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1094, 1184, 1327, 1429, 1492, 1541, 1549, 1550, 1558, 1563, 1564, 1571, 1572, 1585, 1587, 1588, 1595, 1598, 1599, 1603, 1608, 1609, 1615, 1623, 1625, 1642, 1665, 1666, 1671, 1748, 1793 and 1817 are included under the topic Early Min History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Min Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Minn, Minns, Mynn, Mynns, Myn, Min, Mynne, Menne, Minnes, Ming, Ming, Mink, Menn, Mence, Minne, Meny, Mynne, Meene, Mean and many more.

Early Notables of the Min family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Sir John Mennes (1599-1671), was an English Admiral, from "a family long settled at Sandwich, was grandson of Matthew Mennes, mayor of Sandwich in 1549-1550, 1563-1564, 1571-1572, and 1587-1588 (Boys...

Min Ranking

In the United States, the name Min is the 12,374th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [4]


United States Min migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Min Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Richard Min, aged 22, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 [5]
  • Patrick Min, who arrived in Virginia in 1666 [5]

Australia Min migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Min Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Helen Min, aged 21, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Joseph Soames" [6]
  • Helen Min, aged 21, a servant, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Joseph Somes" in 1850 [7]

Contemporary Notables of the name Min (post 1700) +

  • Min Sheldon, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1984 [8]


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  6. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) JOSEPH SOMES / SOAMES 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850JosephSomes.htm
  7. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) JOSEPH SOMES / SOAMES 1850. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850JosephSomes.htm
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, April 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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