Show ContentsMarkley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Markley family

The surname Markley was first found in the ancient ecclesiastic parish of Rochdale of early-medieval origin in northern England, at Marland, an estate in the township of Castleton. "Marland, or Mereland (from its water), in this township (Castleton), is of high antiquity. Alan de Merland, Adam de Merland, and Andrew de Merland were living in the 13th century. A branch of the family of Marland continued to reside and hold lands at Marland from the earliest period until the latter part of the 17th century." 1

The Wills at Chester have three later entries for the family: James Marland, of Rochdale, 1584; Alice Marland, of Bradley; and John Marland, of Hartshead, Ashton-under-Lyne, 1610.

Alternatively, the name could have originated "from Marland (land on a lake) in Devonshire; dweller on the land by the lake." 2 3

The variant Martley claims their origin from Martley, a village and civil parish in the Malvern Hills district of the of Worcestershire.

Early History of the Markley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Markley research. Another 86 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487, 1659, 1693 and 1776 are included under the topic Early Markley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Markley Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Marland, Markland, Merkland, Merland, Mearland, Marlane, Merlane, Mearlane, Marland and many more.

Early Notables of the Markley family

Distinguished members of the family include Jeremiah Markland (1693-1776), an English classical scholar, born in Childwall in Lancashire. He was the private tutor to the son of W. Strode of Punsbourn, Hertfordshire.Robert Markland was an English politician who sat in the House...
Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Markley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Markley Ranking

In the United States, the name Markley is the 4,491st most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 4


United States Markley migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Markley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • James Markley, aged 22, who landed in Maryland in 1684 5
  • Eliz Markley, who arrived in America in 1698
Markley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • William Markley, who arrived in Virginia in 1706 5
  • Jean Christopher Markley, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1752 5
  • Jacob Markley, who arrived in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania in 1753 5
Markley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John M Markley, who landed in Hanford County, Maryland in 1857 5
  • Gotleib Markley, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1868

Canada Markley migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Markley Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Denis Markley, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1834
  • Dennis Markley, who settled in Halifax, Nova Scotia sometime between 1851 and 1853

Contemporary Notables of the name Markley (post 1700) +

  • Dean Markley, founder of Dean Markley Strings, a company that manufactures strings for guitars
  • Ann Markley, American model
  • Philip Swenk Markley (1789-1834), member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
  • Tom Markley Scotney (1897-1959), British founder of Tom M. Scotney Ltd, a former British timber and joinery and timber construction business in St. Ives, Huntingdonshire in 1920
  • Linn Markley Farrish (1901-1944), American gold medalist rugby union player at the 1924 Summer Olympics and alleged spy during World War II, but was later cleared and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
  • Marcus Markley Thames (b. 1977), American professional baseball outfielder
  • Benjamin Markley Boyer (1823-1887), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 6th District, 1865-69 6


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. 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)
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 16) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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