Show ContentsMarwick History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Marwick family

The surname Marwick was first found in Berwickshire an ancient county of Scotland, presently part of the Scottish Borders Council Area, located in the eastern part of the Borders Region of Scotland, where Hugh de Morville held the Abbey of Selkirk afterwards known as Kelso about the year 1120. He subsequently became Constable of Scotland, and founder of Dryburgh Abbey. His successor, Andrew de Morewic acquired the lands of Selside in Cumberland where they held lands from Roger le Poitevin. Meanwhile in Northumberland, England at Morrick, many of the family held estates at about the same time. "This place was the head of the barony of Morwick, held by Hugh de Morwick in the reign of Edward I.; his ancestors were of considerable note, and distinguished for their wealth and power." [1]

Early History of the Marwick family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Marwick research. Another 107 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1185, 1826 and 1908 are included under the topic Early Marwick History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Marwick Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Marwick, Morwick, Morville, Marewick, Morewick and others.

Early Notables of the Marwick family

Notable among the family at this time was

  • Sir James David Marwick


New Zealand Marwick 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:

Marwick Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Marwick, aged 16, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Tongariro" in 1888
  • William Marwick, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Tongariro" in 1888

Contemporary Notables of the name Marwick (post 1700) +

  • Arthur John Brereton Marwick (1936-2006), Scottish professor of history
  • Sir James David Marwick FRSE (1826-1908), Scottish lawyer, historian and town clerk
  • John Marwick MM (1891-1978), New Zealand paleontologist and geologist


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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