Contents [hide]

McVean History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

McVean History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The background history of the name McVean starts in ancient Scotland among the Pictish people. The name McVean is derived from the Gaelic word Beathan or betha which means life. Bean was also the name of a saint in the Breviary of Aberdeen.

Early Origins of the McVean family

The surname McVean was first found in Aberdeen (part of the modern Grampian region), where one of the first times the name arose was a Bean who was a magistrate circa 1210. It is known, however, that the MacBains moved to Invernessshire, as sod bearers to the Chiefs of the great Clan Chattan (a powerful confederation of early Clans). The name literally means "son of the fair lad," and was frequently translated to MacBean (Bain.)

Saint Bean or Beyn (fl. 1011), was, according to Fordun, appointed first bishop of Murthlach by Malclom II, at the instance of Pope Benedict VIII. A fragment of the charter of Malcolm II (1003-1029?), preserved in the register of the diocese of Aberdeen confirms this claim. 1 However, St. Bean is distinctly referred to as a native of Ireland: 'In Hybernia natalis Beani primi episcopi Aberdonensis et confessoris'. 1

Early History of the McVean family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McVean research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1411, 1550 and 1745 are included under the topic Early McVean History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McVean Spelling Variations

Prior to the invention of the printing press in the last hundred years, documents were basically unique. Names were written according to sound, and often appeared differently each time they were recorded. Spelling variations of the name McVean include Bean, Beane, Beyn, Bayn, Bene, Bane, Baine, Beine, Bayne, Beyne, Been, Beaine, MacBain, MacBean, MacVain, MacBean, MacVan and many more.

Early Notables of the McVean family

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

Migration of the McVean family to Ireland

Some of the McVean family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McVean migration to the United States +

The freedom of the North American colonies was enticing, and many Scots left to make the great crossing. It was a long and hard journey, but its reward was a place where there was more land than people and tolerance was far easier to come by. Many of these people came together to fight for a new nation in the American War of Independence, while others remained loyal to the old order as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of Scots in North America have recovered much of this heritage in the 20th century through Clan societies and other such organizations. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important and early immigrants to North America bearing the name of McVean:

McVean Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Peter McVean, who arrived in New York in 1775 2
Effie McVean, who arrived in New York in 1786 2
James McVean, who arrived in New York in 1789 2
Duncan McVean, who landed in New York in 1789 2
John McVean, who landed in New York in 1789 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McVean Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Henry McVean, aged 20, who landed in New York in 1812 2
Agnes McVean, aged 58, who arrived in Kansas in 1886 2

McVean migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McVean Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. James McVean U.E., (McVane) who settled in St. Andrews, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 3

Contemporary Notables of the name McVean (post 1700) +

Charles McVean (1802-1848), American jurist and politician, U.S. Representative from New York (1833-1835)
Robert McVean (b. 1961), American professional football player
W. A. McVean, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Philippine Islands, 1916 4
John C. McVean Jr., American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1900 4
John A. McVean, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Cortland County, 1860 4
John McVean, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Monroe County, 1845 4
Daniel McVean, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Montgomery County, 1812-13 4
D. G. McVean, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Philippine Islands, 1936 4
Charles McVean (1802-1848), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from New York 15th District, 1833-35; Montgomery County District Attorney, 1836-39; U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, 1848 4
Malcolm McVean (1871-1907), Scottish association footballer who played from 1892 to 1897
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the McVean family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. John Mcnaught Dickson Mcvean, British Leading Telegraphist, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 5

The McVean 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: Touch not the catt bot a targe
Motto Translation: Touch not the cat without a shield.

Citations +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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)
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
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html