This interesting surname with variant spellings Marvin, Mervin, Mirfin, Mervyn, Murfin, etc., derives from the personal name Mervyn, itself coming from the Anglo-Saxon given name "Maerwine" meaning "famous friend". The surname dates back to the late 13th Century, (see below). Further recordings include Willelmus Mirfyne (1379), and Thomas Mirfyn (1379) "The Poll Tax Records of Yorkshire". Church recordings include Tymothy, son of William Myrfyn who was christened on June 6th 1546 at St. Mary Woolnoth, London, John, son of John and Rebecca Mirfin, was christened on November 20th 1692 at St. Peters, Cornhill, London, and Anne Soho, Westminster. Lord Mayor Mirfin of London was granted a coat of arms in 1518 which depicts a silver mullet on a black chevron on a gold shield. The crest consists of the top half of a lion proper supporting a silver flag charged with a black cross. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Matilda Marwyn, which was dated 1273, the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire, during the reign of King Edward 1, "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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