Show ContentsMcVinish History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

As a surname, McVinish is derived from the Scandinavian personal name Magnus. The name was born by King of Norway Magnus the Good, who died in 1047. It made its way to Britain through the Danish invasions of Northeastern Britain.

Early Origins of the McVinish family

The surname McVinish was first found in Shetland, where they held a family seat in their territories in the Orkneys. The Viking influence of northern Scotland developed as a stepping stone to Iceland from Scandinavia. Many Viking expeditions were started from the Orkneys and the northern tip. Rollo, first Duke of Normandy, started his conquest of that part of France as an expeditionary from here. Hugo Magnus was found at 1114. Later the name was found in Cortance, Aberdeen in the 17th century.

Early History of the McVinish family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McVinish research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1047, 1420, 1510 and 1600 are included under the topic Early McVinish History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McVinish Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Magnus, Manus, MacVanish, Magnusson, Magnuson, Magnos, Magnes, Magnusson, Magnuss, MacVinish, McWeynish, MacVinis and many more.

Early Notables of the McVinish family

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


New Zealand McVinish 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:

McVinish Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Catherine McVinish, (b. 1861), aged 22, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Westland" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 3rd October 1883 1


  1. 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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