This very interesting Manx Surname would appear to derive from the Norse-Viking (and Olde English pre 7th Century) "Cyne-wig" which translates as "The Elder Chief". The name is relatively common in the Isle of Man, the first recording being seventeenth century when the name spelling appears as Kenvigg and then in 1667 as Kenwige, whilst Alicia Kinwigg is recorded in 1736 and Anne Kenvig in 1813. The modern spelling of Kinvig seems to have first appeared in c.1732 with Thomas Kinvig of Malew. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Chistian Kenvigg. which was dated 1665, Arbory, Isle of Man. during the reign of King Charles II, The Merry Monarch, 1660 - 1685. 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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