Show ContentsMinchin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Minchin family

The surname Minchin was first found in Worcestershire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the year 1190 when Peter Michin held estates in that shire.

Early History of the Minchin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Minchin research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1381, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Minchin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Minchin Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Minchin, Mincin, Mincing, Minchen, Minchan, Minch, Minken, Minkin and many more.

Early Notables of the Minchin family

More information is included under the topic Early Minchin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Minchin family to Ireland

Some of the Minchin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 93 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Minchin migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Minchin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Susan Minchin, who landed in Maryland in 1666 [1]
  • Thomas Minchin, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1682 [1]
  • Tho Minchin, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1682 [1]
Minchin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Patrick Minchin, who arrived in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1832 [1]

Australia Minchin migration to Australia +

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

Minchin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • James A. Minchin, a cabinet-maker, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
  • Miss Catherine Minchin, (b. 1802), aged 24, Irish country servant who was convicted in County Laois (Queen's County), Ireland for 7 years for house robbery, transported aboard the "Brothers" on 3rd October 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [2]
  • Michael Minchin, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes" in 1837 [3]
  • Ellen Minchin, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes" in 1837 [3]
  • Mr. Henry Minchin, English convict who was convicted in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 8th July 1840, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [4]

New Zealand Minchin migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Minchin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Michael Minchin, aged 43, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Inchinnan" in 1852 [5]
  • Ellen Minchin, aged 46, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Inchinnan" in 1852 [5]
  • Henry Minchin, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Inchinnan" in 1852 [5]
  • Mr. Michael Minchin, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Inchinnan" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 27th May 1852 [5]
  • J. Minchin, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 8th December 1863 [6]

Contemporary Notables of the name Minchin (post 1700) +

  • Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Frank Reilly Minchin CBE DSO MC (1890-1927), English aviator, who made an unsuccessful bid to become the first aviator to cross the Atlantic from east to west
  • Nicholas Hugh "Nick" Minchin (b. 1953), Australian politician, Senator for South Australia (1993-2011)
  • Tim Minchin (b. 1975), Australian comedian, actor, composer and songwriter
  • Louise Minchin, British newscaster and journalist
  • Henry Minchin Noad (1815-1877), English chemist and physicist


The Minchin Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Regarde a la mort
Motto Translation: Regard the dead.


  1. 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)
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/brothers
  3. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) KATHERINE STEWART FORBES 1837 arrived Holdfast Bay, near Adelaide, on October 17, 1837. . Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837KatherineStewartForbes.htm
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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