Show ContentsMarney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Marney family

The surname Marney was first found in Essex where they held a family seat. They were descended from the great and noble Marinni (Mareigni or Mairinni) family of Calvados, in the arrondisement of Bayeux in Normandy where Gwerri de Marinni in 1166 held half a knight's fee at Adam de Port of Mapledurwell. 1

Robert de Mareigni was granted lands in Essex in 1168. About this time, the family name changed to de Marny. William held in 1207 and 1284. 1

Another source gives more details. "This family held Layer Marney, in Essex, from the time of Henry II. to that of Henry VIII. The first mentioned is 'William de Marney, who about the year 1166 held a knight's fee under Henry de Essex, of the Honour of Hagnet. ' " 2

At some point, the family branched to the parish of St. Mabyn, in Cornwall. "The manor of Colquite or Kilquite is mentioned in Doomsday as Chilcoit, and is described as one of the 288 manors belonging to the Earl of Moreton. At a subsequent period this was in the family of Serjeaux, by one of whose co-heiresses it was brought in marriage to the Marneys. About the middle of the sixteenth century, John Lord Marney, whose father was created Lord Marney in 1524, built an elegant mansion at Colquite. In this family it remained until it was carried by marriage to the Hoblyns." 3

Early History of the Marney family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Marney research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1319, 1369, 1371, 1376, 1377, 1379, 1380, 1382, 1383, 1384, 1386, 1390, 1400, 1494, 1513, 1523, 1525 and 1621 are included under the topic Early Marney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Marney Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: de Marney, Marney, Marnie, Marny, Marny, Marnet, Marnay, Marner and many more.

Early Notables of the Marney family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Sir Robert Marney (ca...
  • 1319-1400), of Layer Marney, Essex, and Kingsey, Buckinghamshire, 14th-century English politician, a Member of Parliament for Essex in 1369, 1371, 1376, October 1377, 1379, November 1380, October 1382...


United States Marney migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Marney Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Louis Marney, who landed in New York in 1798 4
Marney Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Marney, aged 21, who arrived in New York in 1894 aboard the ship "Umbria" from Liverpool, England 5
Marney Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • John Marney, aged 35, originally from Liverpool, who arrived in New York City in 1919 aboard the ship "Dunstan" from Liverpool, England 5
  • John Marney, aged 19, who arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Manchuria" from Hamburg, Germany 5
  • James Marney, aged 25, who arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Imperator" from Liverpool, England 5

Australia Marney migration to Australia +

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

Marney Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Marney, English convict who was convicted in Wells, Somerset, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Bangalore" on 28th March 1848, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) from Bermuda 6

New Zealand Marney 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:

Marney Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • James Marney, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bebington" in 1872

Contemporary Notables of the name Marney (post 1700) +

  • Dean Marney (b. 1952), American author of several children's books
  • Daniel "Dan" Marney (b. 1981), English professional footballer
  • Paul Marney (b. 1982), English footballer
  • Dean Edward Marney (b. 1984), English footballer
  • Henry Marney (1447-1523), 1st Baron Marney, an English politician of the Tudor period in England
  • Derrick De Marney (1906-1978), English stage and film actor
  • Laura Marney, Scottish novelist and short-story writer
  • Terence De Marney (1908-1971), British film, stage, radio, and television actor


  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. 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
  3. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  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. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bangalore


Houseofnames.com on Facebook