Show ContentsMarkham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Markham family

The surname Markham was first found in Nottinghamshire at Markham, near Tuxford, a parish where they family can be traced to the time of Henry II. 1 More recently the parish is known as East Markham and Great Markham. The St. John the Baptist church in East Markham "is a large structure, with a lofty embattled tower, and contains several ancient monuments to the Markham, Cressy, and other families." 2

At one time, the family held lands and estates in Maplebeck, Nottinghamshire. "An ancient mansion near the church, once the residence of the De Markham family, has been taken down, and the materials have been sold." 2

Early History of the Markham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Markham research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1120, 1250, 1479, 1568, 1597, 1615, 1637, 1644, 1666, 1667, 1678, 1679, 1690, 1693, 1736, 1777 and 1779 are included under the topic Early Markham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Markham Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Markham, Marcham, Markam, Markem and others.

Early Notables of the Markham family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Sir John Markham, eminent lawyer in the year 1250
  • Sir John Markham (died 1479) was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King's Bench
  • Sir Robert Markham, 1st Baronet (1644-1690), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Grantham (1678-1679) and Newark in 1678
  • Sir Robert Markham, 2nd Baronet (1644-1690)
  • Sir George Markham, 3rd Baronet (1666-1736)

Markham Ranking

In the United States, the name Markham is the 2,561st most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 3

Ireland Migration of the Markham family to Ireland

Some of the Markham family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Markham migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Markham Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Robert Markham, who settled in Virginia in 1606
  • Thomas and Susan Markham, who settled in Virginia in 1636
  • Thomas Markham, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 4
  • John Markham, who landed in Virginia in 1638 4
  • Timothy Markham, who landed in Virginia in 1665-1666 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Markham Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Henry Markham, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 4
  • Samuel Markham, who landed in Virginia in 1714 4
  • George Markham, who settled in Maryland in 1775
  • Ebenezer Markham, who landed in New York in 1798 4
Markham Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Markham, aged 50, who arrived in New York in 1812 4
  • Robert Markham, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 4

Canada Markham migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Markham Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Johnathan Markham, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
Markham Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. A. Markham who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Ganges" departing 16th June 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 21st August 1847 but he died on board 5
  • Mr. James Markham, aged 5 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Ganges" departing 16th June 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 21st August 1847 but he died on board 5

Australia Markham migration to Australia +

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

Markham Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Amos Markham, British Convict who was convicted in Derby, Derbyshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
  • Mr. Richard Markham, British Convict who was convicted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 11th August 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
  • Mr. Henry Markham, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Augusta Jessie" on 10th August 1838, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
  • Margaret Markham, aged 22, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Aliquis"
  • Joseph Markham, aged 35, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Aliquis"
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Markham 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:

Markham Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Rachel Markham, (b. 1793), aged 65, English settler from Turvey travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 9
  • Mr. George Markham, (b. 1841), aged 23, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Ivanhoe" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th June 1864 10
  • Mrs. Jane Markham, (b. 1845), aged 19, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Ivanhoe" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th June 1864 10
  • Richard Markham, aged 28, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dorette" in 1874 11
  • Elizabeth Markham, aged 23, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dorette" in 1874 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Markham (post 1700) +

  • William Edwin "Bill" Markham (1922-2021), American politician, Member of the Oregon House of Representatives (1969-1993)
  • George Henry Markham (1837-1920), American farmer and politician who served in the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1879
  • Fred Lewis Markham (1902-1984), American architect, known for his many buildings on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah
  • Charles "Edward" Anson Markham (1852-1940), American poet, Poet Laureate of Oregon (1923-1931)
  • Edward Murphy Markham (1877-1950), United States Army general who served in France during World War I and was later Chief of Engineers from 1933 to 1937
  • Curtis Markham (b. 1959), former American NASCAR driver in all three top series
  • Mark Markham, American pianist
  • David Markham (1913-1983), born Peter Basil Harrison, an English stage and film actor
  • Bernard Markham (1962-1972), English Bishop of Nassau
  • Arthur Matthew Markham (1845-1917), English cyclist who won the first formal cycle race held in Britain in 1868
  • ... (Another 17 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Markham 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: Mitis et audax
Motto Translation: Mild and bold


  1. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. 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)
  5. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 85)
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  8. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 23rd August 2020 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/augusta-jessie
  9. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  10. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  11. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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