Contents [hide]

Mallett History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Mallett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Today's generation of the Mallett family bears a name that was brought to England by the wave of emigration that was started by the Norman Conquest of 1066. It comes from the given name Malle, which is an Old English diminutive of Mary. The name Mary was originally, a Hebrew personal name meaning wished for child. The name Mallett is also derived from the given name Malo, a popular form of the name of Saint Maclovius, the 6th century Welsh monk who gave his name to the church of Saint Maclou in Rouen. Personal names derived from the names of saints, apostles, biblical figures, and missionaries are widespread in most European countries. In the Middle Ages, they became increasingly popular because people believed that the souls of the deceased continued to be involved in this world. They named their children after saints in the hope that the child would be blessed or protected by the saint.

Early Origins of the Mallett family

The surname Mallett was first found in Suffolk where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Cidestan. "All the families of this name in England trace their descent from the renowned William Lord Mallet de Graville, one of the great barons who accompanied William the Conqueror." 1

"No figure stands out more vividly in the great battle of the Conquest than does 'Guillame whom they call Malet,' as Wace suggests for bravery." 2

William, Lord Malet of Greville was one of the greatest landowners in England, having 221 manors in Suffolk alone. He was ancestor of the Mallets of Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall, and those now resident in Jersey. William Mallet was descended from Gerard, a Viking prince and companion of Rollo, the first Duke of Normandy, about 950. They held the castle of Graville near Havre. Maternally, William Mallet was a Saxon, descended from the Earls of Mercia, and more distantly related to Morcar and Edwin, Earls of Northumberland. William Mallet was at the Battle of Hastings, and was instructed by William the Conqueror to take care of the slain King Harold's body. 3 In 1068, he proceeded north with William and led in the reduction of the cities of Nottingham and York.

Robert Malet or Mallet (d. 1106?), Baron of Eye, was "the elder son of William Malet of Graville, and succeeded to his father's possessions on his father's death in 1076. At Eye, Malet built and endowed a monastery of Benedictine monks. From his position he enjoyed considerable influence in the eastern counties, and he took a prominent part in repressing the rebellion of Ralph, Earl of Norfolk, in 1075-6, and in the capture of Norwich Castle which followed. In King William's grant of the manor of Fracenham to Archbishop Lanfranc, Malet is styled vice-comes or sheriff, and later on, at the beginning of Henry I's reign, he appears as great chamberlain of England. In the struggle between Henry and Duke Robert, Malet espoused Robert's cause, and shortly after Henry's accession he was banished from England, together with other adherents of Robert, and his estates in England were confiscated and bestowed by Henry upon Stephen of Blois. He retired to Normandy, and is supposed to have been killed at the battle of Tinchebrai in 1106." 4

"Mallett is a slightly altered form of a very ancient name in Norfolk, where it has remained ever since the time of William the Conqueror, when Roger Mallet or Malet, lord of Eye in Suffolk, received an extensive grant of lands. The name of Malet was common in the adjoining county of Lincoln as well as in the distant county of Somerset in the reign of Edward I." 5

Early feudal rolls provided the king of the time a method of cataloguing holdings for taxation, but today they provide a glimpse into the wide use of the name throughout ancient Britain. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included Malet filius Henry. C. Baldwin Malet, Somerset; Sarra Malet, Cambridgeshire; and Harvey Malet, Buckinghamshire. 6

The Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I. included Alan Malet in Derbyshire, Henry III-Edward I. 7

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Magota Malet and Yohannes Malet as holding lands there at that time. 6

Early History of the Mallett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mallett research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1195, 1204, 1211, 1214, 1215, 1290, 1582, 1600, 1606, 1614, 1622, 1623, 1626, 1665, 1666, 1672, 1679, 1681, 1683, 1685, 1686, 1701 and 1706 are included under the topic Early Mallett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mallett Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Mallett have been found, including Mallet, Mallett, Mallit, Mallitt, Malott, Mallot and many more.

Early Notables of the Mallett family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Thomas Malet (1582-1665) was an English judge and politician from Poyntington, Somerset, Solicitor General to Queen Henrietta Maria, imprisoned in the Tower of London for two years, Member of Parliament for Tregony (1614-1622.) He was the "great-grandson of Sir Baldwin Malet of St. Audries, Somerset, solicitor-general to Henry VIII, and...
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mallett Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mallett Ranking

In the United States, the name Mallett is the 5,399^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 8

Mallett migration to the United States +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Mallett were among those contributors:

Mallett Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Mallett, who arrived in Virginia in 1633 9
William Mallett, who settled in Virginia in 1635
Robert Mallett, who landed in Virginia in 1653 9
Jenkin Mallett, who landed in Maryland in 1656 9
Mathew Mallett, who arrived in Maryland in 1665 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mallett Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Martha Mallett, who landed in Virginia in 1701 9
Gideon Mallett, who arrived in South Carolina in 1739 9

Mallett Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. William Mallett, (b. 1857), aged 35, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "City of New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 9th June 1892 en route to Colorado, USA 10

Mallett migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Mallett Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Mallett, Jr., Cornish convict who was convicted in Cornwall, England for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Fame" on 9th October 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. Robert Mallett who was convicted in Norwich, Norfolk, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 24th March 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. James Mallett, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 2nd November 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Miss Celia Ann Mallett, (b. 1885), aged Infant, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Wistow Hall" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 25th August 1885 14
Mrs. Christina Mallett, (b. 1860), aged 25, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Wistow Hall" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 25th August 1885 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mallett migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Mallett Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mary J. Mallett, aged 22, a servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ocean Mail" in 1875
John Mallett, aged 28, a farm labourer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Caroline" in 1876 15
Harriet Mallett, aged 24, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Caroline" in 1876 15
Annie Mallett, aged 5, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Caroline" in 1876 15
Linda E. Mallett, aged 1, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Caroline" in 1876 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mallett migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 16

Mallett Settlers in West Indies in the 19th Century

Mr. Herbt Mallett, (b. 1869), aged 23, Cornish rope maker travelling aboard the ship "Majestic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 28th January 1892 en route to Havana, Cuba 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Mallett (post 1700) +

Jerry Mallett (1939-2015), American educator, founder of the Mazza Museum
Brigadier-General Pierre Mallett (1893-1969), American Commanding Officer Artillery 85th Division (1943-1945) 17
G Herbert Mallett (d. 1999), American politician, Mayor of Rutherford, N. J. (1960-64)
Lydia G. Mallett, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 2008 18
G. Herbert Mallett (1906-1999), American politician, Mayor of Rutherford, New Jersey, 1960-64; Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly, 1964-66 18
Edward J. Mallett, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Providence, Rhode Island, 1831-45 18
Edward B. Mallett Jr., American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Maine, 1888 18
David F. Mallett, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1956; Candidate for Secretary of State of Illinois, 1956 18
Conrad L. Mallett Jr. (b. 1953), American Democratic Party politician, Justice of Michigan State Supreme Court, 1990-99; Appointed 1990; Resigned 1999; Chief Justice of Michigan State Supreme Court, 1997-99 18
Conrad Mallett, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Michigan Democratic State Central Committee, 1973-77 18
... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Mallett Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ma force d'en haut
Motto Translation: My strength is from above.

Citations +

Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th March 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_queensland.pdf
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, April 11) Pierre Mallett. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Mallett/Pierre/USA.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html