Show ContentsMarvin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Marvin Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Marvin

What does the name Marvin mean?

There are four possible sources for the name Marvin: (i) Old English Merewine, (ii) Old English Merefinn from the Old Norse Finnr, (iii) Welsh Mervin from Welsh Merlin and (iv) Old English feminine name Merewen. 1

"The Brittany form of this famous name was Merlin. Miss Yonge says Mervyn is still in use in Wales as a font-name. The story of 'Mervyn Clytheroe' has made the name familiar to modern ears. The Yorkshire form of the surname to-day is Murfin or Mirfin, practically the same as Mirfyn in the 14th century." 2

Early Origins of the Marvin family

The surname Marvin was first found in Northumberland, c. 1060 where the Saxon Ælfwine Merefinnes was recorded as holding lands at that time. 1 Mervin (without surname), was rector of Chester-le-Street, 1085: History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham. 2

By the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, the name had spread throughout ancient Britain as records show Merefin (Northumberland), Meruin (Surrey), Mervinus (Cambridgeshire). 3 Early London records list Merefin in the Pipe Rolls of 1169.

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included an entry for Matilda Marwyn, Huntingdonshire. 2

Robert Merwyn was found in the Assize Rolls for Lincolnshire in 1298; Gilbert Mervyn in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1327; John Murfyn in Yorkshire in 1410; and William Marvin in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1524. 1

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Willelmus Mirfyne, smyght; Johannes Myrfyn; and Thomas Mirfyn. 2

The progenitor of the Marvin family in America was Matthew Marvin Sr. (1600-1678), founding settler of Hartford and Norwalk, Connecticut. Born in Great Bentley, Essex, he was "sydeman" of the parish of Great Bentley in 1621, overseer in 1627, and senior warden in 1628. He emigrated to Hartford with his wife and children in 1635 aboard the ship Increase and was one of the first twelve settlers of Hartford. The famous actor Lee Marvin was one of his many descendants.

Early History of the Marvin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Marvin research. Another 173 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1135, 1194, 1406, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1542, 1562, 1600, 1603, 1619, 1626, 1664, 1678, 1702, 1707, 1710, 1712, 1714, 1717, 1718, 1724, 1727 and 1754 are included under the topic Early Marvin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Marvin Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Marvin, Marven, Marvyn, Marvan and others.

Early Notables of the Marvin family

  • Matthew Marvin Sr. (1600-1678), founding settler of Hartford and Norwalk, Connecticut. He served as a deputy of the General Court of the Colony of Connecticut
  • Matthew Marvin Jr. (1626-1712), his son, was founding settler of both Hartford and Norwalk, Connecticut. He served as a deputy of the General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut from Norwalk
  • Samuel Marvin (1664-1754) was an American member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from Norwalk, Connecticut Colony in the May 1718 session. He served as a townsman in 1702, 1707, 1710, 1712...

Marvin Ranking

the United States, the name Marvin is the 2,873rd most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 4

Marvin migration to the United States +



Marvin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Matthew Marvin, who arrived in Hartford, Connecticut in 1635 5
  • Reynold Marvin, who landed in Hartford, Connecticut in 1638 5
Marvin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Maria Magdalena Marvin, who landed in New York, NY in 1710-1714 5
Marvin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Margaret Elizabeth Dominick Marvin, who arrived in New York in 1834 5
  • Ann Dominick Marvin, who landed in New York in 1834 5
  • A S, Marvin Jr., who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1849 5
  • W W Marvin, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 5

Marvin migration to Canada +

Marvin Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • John Marvin, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • John Marvin, who arrived in New Brunswick in 1783
  • Mr. John Marvin U.E. born in Norwalk, Connecticut, USA who settled in Kingston, Kings County, New Brunswick c. 1783 listed as a passenger on Union Transport 6
  • Mr. John Marvin U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 6

Marvin migration to Australia +

Marvin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Emanuel Marvin, English convict who was convicted in Lincolnshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Fame" on 9th October 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
  • Mr. Edward Marvin, (b. 1801), aged 21, English labourer who was convicted in Lincolnshire (Parts of Kesteven), England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 13th July 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1824 8
  • Mr. John Marvin, (b. 1822), aged 23, English sawyer who was convicted in Bourne, Lincolnshire, England for 10 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 30th June 1845, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 9

Marvin 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:

Marvin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Lewis Marvin, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1863 10
  • Mr. Lewis Marvin, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gertrude" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 9th February 1863 11
  • Mr. Marvin, Canadian settler travelling from Vancouver Island aboard the ship "Konig Oscar" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 11th January 1865 11
  • Miss Annie B Marvin, (b. 1855), aged 23, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Western Monarch" arriving in New Zealand in 1879 12

Contemporary Notables of the name Marvin (post 1700) +

  • Lee Marvin (1924-1987), born Lamont Warren Marvin Jr., American film actor who achieved an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and two BAFTA Awards, perhaps best known for his roles in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), The Dirty Dozen (1967), Paint Your Wagon (1969),and Cat Ballou (1965), recipient of the Purple Heart for his actions in World War II
  • James M. Marvin (1809-1901), American politician, U.S. Representative from New York
  • James Marvin (1820-1901), American academic, Cancellor of the University of Kansas
  • John Marvin (1927-1980), American bronze medalist sailor at the 1956 Summer Olympics
  • John Marvin (1678-1776), American politician, Member of the House of Representatives of the Colony of Connecticut
  • John Gage Marvin (1815-1855), American lawyer, legal bibliographer and figure in the history of California.
  • Johnny Marvin (1897-1944), early American recording artist and musician
  • Richard P. Marvin (1803-1892), American lawyer and politician from New York
  • Richard Marvin, American film composer, best known for his soundtrack collaboration for the 2000 film U-571
  • ... (Another 26 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Halifax Explosion
  • Master Marvin (1917-1917), Canadian resident from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 13
  • Mrs. Mary Graham Carmichael Marvin, (née Farquarson), aged 18, American First Class passenger from New York City, New York who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 10 14
  • Mr. Daniel Warner Marvin (d. 1912), aged 18, American First Class passenger from New York City, New York who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 15

Suggested Readings for the name Marvin +

  • An Ormsbee Odyssey by Nora O'Dell Coppage.
  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. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  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. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
  10. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  11. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  12. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  13. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  14. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html

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