Nevin (surname)

Nevin is a surname of Irish (Gallowglass) origin. Two etymologies are given. It may originate from Cnamhín, derived from Cnamh, "a bone", possibly a nickname in reference to the first chief of the clan who was a bony or large-boned man.^[1][2][3] Secondly, it may be an Anglicisation of the Irish Gaelic form MacCnaimhín / Ó Cnaimhín / MacCnaomhín / Ó Cnaomhín or Ní Chnáimhín / Ní Chnáomhín (female),^[4] meaning "Little Saint" or "Saintly" / "Believer in Saints" / "Religious".^[5]

Nevin Modern Placement

The name Nevin is particularly found along the north and west coast of Ireland in Derry, Donegal, Mayo and Galway where many settled around the 13th century, having been Gallowglass Mercenaries,^[6] and in the north and west of Scotland. The Nevins are notable per local population in Achill and the surrounding islands in County Mayo and around Coleraine and Derry. Possible sources of the family have been cited as: Achill Island, Athenry, Mayo village and Mulranny in Ireland, as well as Braco, Isle of Bute, Kilwinning, and Lanark, in Scotland. Nevin has often been anglicised as McNevin, Nieven, McNieven, McNiven, Navin, Knavin and Niven, amongst many others. The main Scots translation, most likely due to accent, is Niven / McNiven.^[7][8]

Nevins in History

The family name of Nevin originated somewhere within Scotland and Ireland sometime before the 6th Century.^[6] Although it is uncertain whether the family name originated in Ireland or Scotland, it is clear that there had been mutual migration between the two countries for several hundreds of years prior to the 13th century.^[8] It is possible that the Nevins first left Ireland for Scotland with the Dalriadan Scots or more likely, with a Gaelic migration sometime pre 5th Century.^[7][8] Nevins have been noted in presence well before the 10th century on the west coast of Scotland, most notably in Ayrshire, Islay, Bute and the Hebrides. The family were also noted in Ireland well before the 10th Century and are mentioned numerously as an ancient family of the Uí Maine of Connacht in O'Donovan's "The Hy Many".^[8][9] The family obtained a Seat near Athenry, Galway in the early 14th Century, most likely gifted as a payment for mercenary service.^[6] It is assumed the Nevin family's large presence in modern Ireland arrived with the Gallowglass sometime before the 14th Century.^[1][7][8]

Nevins and English Rule

The Nevins appear to have had many disputes with English rulers. Patrick Nevin, son of John of Lanark, Scotland, was summoned to Berwick in 1296 and made to sign the Ragman Roll along with the likes of Robert de Brus.^[10] In February 1429 Patrick Nevin died in the initial assault by the Scots forces during the Battle of the Herrings, Orléans, against the English. In 1602 the chief of the MacCnaimhíns in Galway was hanged for rebelling against Elizabeth I outside of his home at Crannagh MacCnaimhín, near Gort in Galway.^[11][12] In 1603 a branch of the Ayrshire & Galloway Nevins were exiled to Ireland.^[13] In 1745 John Nevin of Aberdeen was imprisoned in Carlisle alongside his young son James for their part in the Jacobite Uprising and was later executed. His son James went on to become a composer of Jacobean songs and poems.^[14] John Nevin of Ballymoney was a Captain in the United Irishmen Rebellion of 1798.^[15] The prominent surgeon William MacCnaimhín, a close friend of Robert Emmet's older brother Thomas, was a chief negotiator with the French during the planning of the 1798 rebellion and assisted in organising the rebellion itself. He was arrested on the eve of the rebellion, along with Thomas Emmet, imprisoned in Scotland and was later exiled.^[12][16][17]

With their history and position in Scotland at the time of the Scottish War of Independence, it is likely that they fought in battle for Murray, Wallace and Bruce in Scotland, and indeed in Ireland, against the English.^[18]

Coat of Arms and Motto

Crest

The Original Nevin Coat of Arms consists of a Crest with a Fern Palm Branch Vert.^{[citation needed]} The Fern is a universal symbol of magic and the Palm itself signifies magic, belief in Christ or a purified heart. The Palm can also be seen as service as an authority in the Crusades or a family origin in the Middle East.^{[citation needed]}

Coat of Arms

The Nevin Coat of Arms Shield consists of the standard warrior Fess design (synonymous with the Gallowglass), with the Shield and Field in blue with the Fess in Silver/White.

The most distinguisable feature of the Coat of Arms are the Crescents. Because of family variations and changes to the heraldric origin, the Crescents have changed from their position with different branches of the family. The oldest Nevin Coat of Arms shows an decrescent and an increscent on the Field.^{[citation needed]} On the Fess there is a third upturned crescent, which is most likely to signify a Middle Eastern connection or symbolise Esotericism.^{[citation needed]} The Crescent, like the Fern is an old universal symbol of Esoterical Magic.^{[citation needed]} In Ireland/Scotland the Crescent has been used to signify a second son. However, with the Nevins, because of its prominence as a symbol, it is believed to either symbolise Esotericism, a connection with the Crusades or the family having an origin in the Middle Eastern region.^{[citation needed]}

The other prominent symbol on the Arms is the Fern Palm, which appears on the Shield. The Fern is a symbol of Magic and points strongly to a Middle Eastern connection.^{[citation needed]} As well as symbolising Magic or a belief in Christ, the Palm can also be seen as a reference to the orders in the crusades and/or the family having an origin in the Middle East.^{[citation needed]}

Colours

The Field and Shield colours are blue and the Fess itself is Silver/White.

The colours Blue and White suggest Strength, Loyalty and Sincerity with Peace respectively.^{[citation needed]}

Motto

The family's motto is: "Nil Desperandum" - Never Despair / Where there is Life there is Hope.

Notable people with the surname Nevin

John Williamson Nevin

• Áine Ní Chnáimhín (1908–2001) - Irish Author and Irish Translator of English Literary Works^[4]
• Allan Nevins (1890–1971) - American Journalist, Historian, Author and Biographer
• Arthur Nevin (1871–1943) - American Composer and brother of Ethelbert Nevin
• Blanche Nevin (1841–1925) - American Sculptor and Poet. Daughter of John Williamson Nevin
• Brooke Nevin - Canadian Actress^[19]
• Danny Nevins (b. 1966) - Prominent American Rabbi and Dean of the Rabbinical School of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
• David Nevins, Jr. (1839–1898) - American Merchant and Philanthropist
• Donal Nevin - Biographer of James Connolly.^[20]
• Duncan Nevin - Head Teacher and Minister to City of Dunblane, Scotland for over 30 years under James VI from 1576 to 1607^[21]
• Edwin Henry Nevin (1814–1889) - American Presbyterian Minister and Religious Composer^[22][23]
• Ethelbert Nevin (1862–1901) - American Pianist and Composer
• George Balch Nevin (1859–1933) American Composer and Businessman
• George McNiven (1929-2008) - Irish/Scottish Goalkeeper
• Gordon Balch Nevin (1892–1943) American Composer and Organist
• Jason Nevins - American Musician
• Jess Nevins - American Author and Librarian
• Johnny Nevin - Irish Hurling Player and Gaelic Footballer from Carlow
• Bishop John J. Nevins (b. 1932) - Long serving Roman Catholic Bishop in Venice, Florida^[24]
• John Joe Nevin - Irish Traveller and Amateur World Boxing bronze medalist from Mullingar, Westmeath
• John Williamson Nevin (1803–1886) - Scottish Irish Theologian and Presbyterian Minister for over 50 years in the U.S.A
• Kate Nevin (d. 1715) - Witch, Healer and Prophetess. Burnt at the stake in Monzie, Scotland in 1715
• Mark E. Nevin - Singer Songwriter, formerly of the band Fairground Attraction
• Martin Nevin - Irish Boxer (1936-)
• Paul Lawrence Nevins (1944- )-Lawyer and author,Boston, MA
• Pat Nevin - Former Scotland International Soccer Player
• Phil Nevin (b. 1971) - Former American professional baseball player
• Robyn Nevin - Australian actress
• Thomas MacNevin (1814–1848) - Irish Author, Historian, Biographer, Poet and Journalist
• Fr. Thomas Nevin (1904–1989) - Longest serving Catholic Priest in Orange County, California, U.S.A^[25]
• Thomas Nevin - Official Messenger of King James V of Scotland and later his wife Mary de Guise^{[citation needed]}
• Thomas Nevin (1685–1744) - Outspoken Scottish Irish Presbyterian Minister and subject of the trial of Thomas Nevin MA^[26][27]
• William MacCnaimhín - Irish Republican and Organiser of the Irish 1798 Rebellion^{[citation needed][12]}
• William O'Kelly Nevin - Irish Republican and Personal Physician to Empress Maria Theresa of the Holy Roman Empire^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Achill
• Coleraine
• Esotericism
• The Gallowglasses
• Garde Écossaise
• Hy Many
• Irish Travellers
• Kirkwood Estate, East Ayrshire
• Thomas MacNevin
• Thomas Addis Emmet
• Monkredding House, North Ayrshire
• Kate Ní Chnáimhín (Witch of Monzie)
• Naughton
• Nefyn
• Nevyn
• Spanish Royal Guard
• Ulster Irish Language

References

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