The name Marvin has its origins in the Old French name Marvin or Marven, which was derived from the Old English name Mærwine. The name Mærwine is composed of the elements "mær" meaning "famous" and "wine" meaning "friend". Thus, the name Marvin can be interpreted as "famous friend".

The name Marvin was first recorded in England during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. It was brought to England by the Norman French and gradually became a popular name among the English population. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was Marvyn in the Domesday Book of 1086.

In the Middle Ages, the name Marvin was associated with several historical figures. One notable example is Marvin de Cheremeunde, a French knight who fought in the Third Crusade in the late 12th century. Another was Marvin of Strathclyde, a Scottish nobleman and warrior who lived in the 10th century.

Throughout history, there have been several famous individuals bearing the name Marvin. One of the earliest was Marvin Gaye (1939-1984), an American singer-songwriter and record producer, known as the "Prince of Motown". Another was Marvin Hamlisch (1944-2012), an American composer and conductor who won several Academy Awards and Emmy Awards.

In the field of science, Marvin Minsky (1927-2016) was a renowned American cognitive scientist and co-founder of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. Marvin Zonis (1941-2020) was an American political scientist and economist, known for his expertise in Middle Eastern politics and economics.

In literature, Marvin Bell (born 1937) is an American poet and former Poet Laureate of Iowa. His works include "Stars Which See, Stars Which Do Not See" and "Vertigo: The Living Word Anthologies".

While the name Marvin has roots in Old English and Old French, it has been widely used across various cultures and time periods, with several notable individuals leaving their mark in various fields.