Show ContentsMabin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Welsh name Mabin is derived from the hills and Moors of Wales where a very particular Celtic people, known as the Britons, thrived. This surname is derived from the Welsh personal name Mabon, which means a child or great son.

According to Welsh literature and mythology, Mabon ap Modron, the son of Modron, is a member of King Arthur's war band.

Early Origins of the Mabin family

The surname Mabin was first found in Cornwall, at St. Mabyn, a parish, in the union of Bodmin, hundred of Trigg. [1]

"St. Mabyn is indebted for its name to one of the large sainted family that came into this country from Wales. One of these, a female, whose name was Maben, fixed her hermitage in this district, which still retains her name. This name seems to have been appropriated to the parish at an early period; since in the first valor in 1294, we find the name of Ecclesia Sanctae. Mabenae applied to the present rectory not far from Wadebridge. Of the personal history of this female saint, very little is at present known." [2]

Early History of the Mabin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mabin research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mabin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mabin Spelling Variations

There are relatively few surnames native to Wales, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. Early variations of Welsh surnames can be explained by the fact that very few people in the early Middle Ages were literate. Priests and the few other literate people were responsible for recording names in official documents. And because most people could not specific how to properly record their names it was up to the individual recorder of that time to determine how a spoken name should be recorded. Variations due to the imprecise or improper recording of a name continued later in history when names originally composed in the Brythonic Celtic, language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, were transliterated into English. Welsh names that were documented in English often changed dramatically since the native language of Wales, which was highly inflected, did not copy well. Occasionally, however, spelling variations were carried out according to an individual's specific design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations could be indicated by minor variations. The spelling variations of the name Mabin have included Maben, Mabon, Mabin, Mabben and others.

Early Notables of the Mabin family

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


United States Mabin migration to the United States +

Many Welsh families joined their Scottish and Irish neighbors during the late 1800s and early 1900s in seeking refuge in North America. Like the Irish and Scottish, many Welsh anxiously awaited the work, freedom, and opportunities that they believed lay in North America. Those who did journey over to the United States and what became known as Canada often realized those dreams, but only through much toil and perseverance. Whenever and however these Welsh immigrants arrived in North America, they were instrumental in the creation of the industry, commerce, and cultural heritage within those two developing nations. In the immigration and passenger lists a number of early immigrants bearing the name Mabin were found:

Mabin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Edward Mabin, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 [3]
Mabin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • George Mabin, who landed in New York in 1801 [3]
  • James Mabin, who landed in New York in 1801 [3]

New Zealand Mabin 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:

Mabin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mary Mabin, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Siam" in 1865
  • Roy Mabin, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Siam" in 1865
  • John R. Mabin, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Siam" in 1865
  • Fanny Mabin, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Siam" in 1865

Contemporary Notables of the name Mabin (post 1700) +

  • Daniel J. Mabin, American Republican politician, Candidate for Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Bucks County 2nd District, 1954 [4]

HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Francis E Mabin, British Leading Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking [5]


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  3. 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)
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  5. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html


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