Marshall History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The surname Marshall is a name of ancient Norman origin. It comes from the Old French "mareschal," which is in turn derived from the Germanic elements "marah," meaning "horse" and "scalc," or "servant." Thus the name was originally used for a person who tended horses. Around the same time that surnames were being formed, the marshall was one of the most important servants in the houses of the nobility. 1

"This being a name of office (the Marshal being a feudal officer of eminence appointed by each great baron) includes a number of different families." 2

Early Origins of the Marshall family

The surname Marshall was first found in Lothian, where the Clan is said to be descended from Robert, an early Chieftain of the Catti tribe, and possibly one of the earliest settlers in Scotland. Robert joined King Malcolm II at the battle of Panbridge, in 1006, against Camus, leader of the Danes. Robert slew Camus for which King Malcolm granted Robert the hereditary title of Marshall of Scotland, with a barony in Lothian and the island of Inskeith in the gulf of Edinburgh. It is for this title that the Keiths are sometimes known as the Marshalls, and many Clansmen adopted that name.

"Maledoni Marescal is witness to gift of the lands of Perdeyc (Partick) to the church of Glasgow, 1136. About 1170 Symon Mare-scall witnessed a charter by Walter de Berkeley, and between 1178-80 Gillecolm Merescald witnessed a charter by William the Lion of Kinbethach to Gilbert, earl of Strathern. Guldone marescaldus witnessed a charter by Robert, bishop of St. Andrews before 1173 and Robert Merescaldus de Molle witnessed EsChina de London's gift of the church of Molle to Kelso, c. 1185-1190. Philip Merescallus, a charter witness between 1187-c. 1202, married the heiress of Keith-Humbie, and thus became ancestor of the Keiths, Earls Marischal. Adam, merescallus of the bishop of Glasgow, witnessed sale of lands of Scrogges to the church of Glasgow, c. 1208-1213." 3

Early History of the Marshall family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Marshall research. Another 441 words (32 lines of text) covering the years 1304, 1438, 1464, 1748, 1775, 1796, 1833, 1851, 1855 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Marshall History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Marshall Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Marshall, Marshal, Marescal, Marescall, Merchel, Mercial, Mershell, Mersell, Marshale and many more.

Early Notables of the Marshall family

Notable among the family at this time was

Henry Marshall (1775-1851), physician and Inspector-General of army hospitals born in Stirlingshire
James Marshall (1796-1855) of Bute, preacher and author

Marshall World Ranking

In the United States, the name Marshall is the 119^th most popular surname with an estimated 186,525 people with that name. 4 However, in Canada, the name Marshall is ranked the 118^th most popular surname with an estimated 25,682 people with that name. 5 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Marshall is the 213^rd popular surname with an estimated 201 people with that name. 6 Australia ranks Marshall as 71^st with 32,900 people. 7 New Zealand ranks Marshall as 53^rd with 5,263 people. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Marshall as 62^nd with 71,607 people. 9

Migration of the Marshall family to Ireland

Some of the Marshall family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Marshall migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Marshall Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Robert Marshall, who arrived in Virginia in 1616 aboard the ship "George" 10
Mrs. Ann Marshall, who arrived in Virginia in 11616 aboard the ship "George" 10
Henry Marshall, who landed in America in 1620 11
Edward Marshall, aged 26, who arrived in Virginia in 1621 aboard the ship "Abigaile"
Charle Marshall, who arrived in Virginia in 1623
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Marshall Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Josias Marshall, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 11
Angell Marshall, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 11
Abraham Marshall, who landed in Virginia in 1709 11
Angilo Marshall, who landed in Virginia in 1719 11
Isaiah Marshall, who arrived in Maryland or Virginia in 1730 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Marshall Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Betty Marshall, aged 19, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1805 11
Joseph Marshall, who arrived in Ohio in 1812 11
Elizabeth Marshall, aged 39, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1813 11
Gilbert Marshall, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1818 11
Andrew Marshall, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1826 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Marshall Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. George Marshall, (b. 1868), aged 32, Cornish slater travelling aboard the ship "Lucania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 5th March 1900 en route to Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, USA 12
Mrs. Jane Marshall, (b. 1853), aged 47, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Lucania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 5th March 1900 en route to Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, USA 12
Mr. Frank Marshall, (b. 1872), aged 31, Cornish carpenter travelling aboard the ship "Ivernia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 17th March 1903 en route to St Louis, Illinois, USA 12
Mr. John E. Marshall, (b. 1846), aged 58, Cornish slater, from Camelford, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 8th February 1904 en route to Bangor, Pennsylvania, USA 12
Mrs. Martha Marshall, (b. 1849), aged 56, Cornish settler, from St Austell, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Lucania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Indianapolis, Indiana, USA 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Marshall migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Marshall Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

John Marshall, who was on record in Keels, Newfoundland in 1681 13
Henry Marshall, who was a boat keeper in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1681 13

Marshall Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Josiah Marshall, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
Lascelles Marshall, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
George Marshall, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
Jane Marshall, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Charles Marshall, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Marshall Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Marshall migrated from Clackmannan to Toronto in 1832
Mary, Robert and Thomas Marshall, who all, who sailed to Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834
Mary, Robert, and Thomas Marshall and Joseph Marshale, who all, who sailed to Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834
Robert Marshall, aged 26, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the barque "New Brunswick" from Liverpool, England
Mary Marshall, aged 22, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the barque "New Brunswick" from Liverpool, England
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Marshall migration to Australia +

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

Marshall Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. George Marshall, British Convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. George Marshall, British convict who was convicted in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Mr. George Marshall, English convict who was convicted in Liverpool, Merseyside, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Duke of Portland" in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
Mr. James Marshall, (b. 1771), aged 36, English carpenter who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 14 years , transported aboard the "Duke of Portland" in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1837 16
Mr. William Marshall, (Massiter), English convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Marshall 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:

Marshall Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

E Marshall, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1830
David Watt Marshall, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Mrs R A Marshall, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship London
S Marshall, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
W Marshall, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Marshall 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. 18

Marshall Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Francis Marshall, (b. 1609), aged 26, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 19
Miss Jane Marshall, (b. 1614), aged 21, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 19
Mr. Richard Marshall, (b. 1599), aged 36, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 19

Contemporary Notables of the name Marshall (post 1700) +

Barry Marshall (b. 1951), Australian physician and Nobel Prize winner famous for his research into stomach ulcers
Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993), American jurist, first African American to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Garry Marshall (1934-2016), born Garry Kent Masciarelli, an American actor, director, writer, producer and creator of the television shows Happy Days and The Odd Couple, inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1997
Robert I. Marshall (1946-2024), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Delaware State Senate 3rd District; Elected 1998 20
Frederick J. Marshall (1951-2023), American jurist, Justice of the New York State Supreme Court (2000-2022)
John Marshall (1945-2021), American football coach and defensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders from 2009–2010
Michael Grant "Iron Mike" Marshall (1943-2021), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1967 to 1981, winner of the National League Cy Young Award in 1974 and was a two time All-Star selection
Tonie Marshall (1951-2020), French-born, American actress, screenwriter, and film director
Paule Marshall (1929-2019), American writer, best known for her 1959 debut novel Brown Girl, Brownstones
Penny Marshall (1943-2018), American actress, producer and director, recipient of three Golden Globe award nominations
... (Another 280 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Marshall family +

Halifax Explosion

Mr. George Norman Marshall (1863-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 21
Mr. William Marshall (1869-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 21
Mrs. Annie Marshall (1872-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 21
Mr. William Marshall (1904-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 21

HMS Cornwall

Anthony Reginald Marshall, British Lieutenant aboard the HMS Cornwall (1942) when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he survived the sinking 22

HMS Dorsetshire

William Charles Start Marshall (d. 1945), British Able Seaman aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 23

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Leslie Marshall, British Engine Room Artificer 4th Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 24
Mr. George Marshall, British Stoker 2nd Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 24
Mr. Geoffrey G Marshall, British Ordnance, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 24

HMS Repulse

Mr. Robert Marshall, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 25
Mr. John William Marshall, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking, was killed in action 25
Mr. Edward T Marshall, British Petty Officer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 25
Mr. Ernest Marshall (b. 1921), English Ordinary Seaman from Norwich, England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 25

HMS Royal Oak

Frederick Marshall (1921-1939), British Boy 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 26

Prince of Wales colliery

Mr. William Marshall (b. 1846), Welsh coal miner who was working at the Prince of Wales Colliery in Abercarn, Wales on the 11th September 1878 when there was a coal mine explosion; he died 27

RMS Lusitania

Mr. James Marshall, English First Waiter from Waterloo, Lancashire, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 28
Mrs. Fannie E. Marshall, Canadian 3rd Class passenger from Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 29

SS Caribou

Mr. Albert Walter Marshall (b. 1920), British passenger who was Royal Navy from Victoria, British Columbia was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he died in the sinking

USS Arizona

Mr. Thomas Donald Marshall, American Seaman Second Class from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 30

The Marshall 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: Semper virescit virtus
Motto Translation: Virtue always flourishes.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
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
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duke-of-portland
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Entombed in flood and flame (retrieved 3rd August 2021). Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20120603025705/http://www.crosskeys.me.uk/history/prince.htm
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html