Vinney may be the Dorset form of the archaic word vinny ("moldy") or perhaps a corruption of veiny, referring to its blue veins.

This is considered healthy by some and risky by others due to the potential for tuberculosis from infected cows passing into the milk.

Milk was of little value before the railways as it could not be brought to market before it went off, thus cheese and butter production was the main focus of dairy farms.

Dorset butter was highly regarded in London where it fetched a premium price but making butter left the farmers with large quantities of skimmed milk which they turned into a hard, crumbly cheese.

[3] Local myth describes how in years gone by, due to its supposed illegal nature, Blue Vinny would be left on the doorstep of those who ordered it on the black market.