Show ContentsMarriott History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Marriott is one of the many new names that came to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Marriott family lived in Leicestershire. Their name, however, is a reference to the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Marriot in Normandy. While many of the family settled in England, some stayed behind in Normandy as shown by Richard Mareta who was listed there (1180-1195.) [1]

Early Origins of the Marriott family

The surname Marriott was first found in Somerset at Merriott, a parish, in the union of Chard, hundred of Crewkerne. [2] This parish was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Meriet [3] and possibly meant "boundary gate," from the Old English words "maere" + "geat." [4] Some of the first listings of the name include: Alric filius Meriet; and Aelric Meriete in 1066 and Aegel filius Mergeati c. 1086. Symon Meriet was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1202. [5] The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: John de Meriet in Lincolnshire; and Simon de Meriet in Somerset. [6]

Early History of the Marriott family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Marriott research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1614, 1657, 1679, 1695, 1698, 1708 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Marriott History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Marriott Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Marriott, Mariott, Marriot, Marritt, Marrot, Marrotte, Mariatt, Maryet, Maryott, Marryatt, Mariate, Merritt, Merriott and many more.

Early Notables of the Marriott family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Augustine Marriott of London

Marriott World Ranking

In the United States, the name Marriott is the 7,195th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [7] However, in Australia, the name Marriott is ranked the 862nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,600 people with that name. [8] And in the United Kingdom, the name Marriott is the 591st popular surname with an estimated 11,036 people with that name. [9]

Ireland Migration of the Marriott family to Ireland

Some of the Marriott family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Marriott migration to the United States +

Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Marriott name or one of its variants:

Marriott Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Henry Marriott, who landed in Virginia in 1646 [10]
  • William Marriott, who arrived in Virginia in 1658 [10]
Marriott Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Edward Marriott, who settled in Annapolis in 1758
  • Samuel Marriott, who settled in Virginia in 1774
Marriott Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Samuel Marriott, who arrived in New York in 1809 [10]

Canada Marriott migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Marriott Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • William Marriott, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749

Australia Marriott migration to Australia +

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

Marriott Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William Marriott, English convict from Essex, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on October 22nd, 1824, settling in New South Wales, Australia [11]
  • Mr. George Marriott, English convict who was convicted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Eden" on 27th August 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [12]
  • Mr. Ellis Marriott, (Hines), English convict who was convicted in Suffolk, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Augusta Jessie" on 10th August 1838, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [13]
  • Mr. William Marriott, British Convict who was convicted in St. Georges, Bermuda for 7 years, transported aboard the "Cressy" on 28th April 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [14]
  • Miss Mary Marriott, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth and Henry" on 14th September 1846, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [15]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Marriott 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:

Marriott Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • J H Marriott, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship Thomas Sparks
  • J H Marriott, British settler travelling from London and Plymouth aboard the ship "Thomas Sparks" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1843, the ship stuck rocks of the coast of Cape of Good Hope delaying her landing by 2 months [16]
  • Mr. Marriott, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Merchantman' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand and Auckland New Zealand on 6th September 1855 [17]
  • Mrs. Marriott, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Merchantman' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand and Auckland New Zealand on 6th September 1855 [17]
  • Mrs. Charlotte Marriott, British settler travelling from Liverpool aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 19th October 1859 [17]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Marriott 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]
Marriott Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Robert Marriott, who settled in Jamaica in 1679

Contemporary Notables of the name Marriott (post 1700) +

  • John Willard Marriott (1900-1985), American entrepreneur and businessman, founder of Marriott Corporation, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • John Willard "Bill" Marriott Jr. (b. 1932), American businessman, Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Marriott International
  • Alice Marriott (1907-2000), American entrepreneur philanthropist, wife of John Willard Marriott
  • Fred Marriott (1872-1956), American race car driver, world land speed record holder
  • W. H. Marriott, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kentucky, 1916 [19]
  • Salima Siler Marriott, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Maryland, 1988; Member of Maryland State House of Delegates District 40, 2001 [19]
  • Richard H. Marriott, American politician, Mayor of Sacramento, California, 1968-75 [19]
  • James H. Marriott, American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Sterling; Elected 1926 [19]
  • Frank M. Marriott, American politician, Circuit Judge in Ohio 5th Circuit, 1911-13 [19]
  • David Daniel Marriott (b. 1939), American Republican politician, U.S. Representative from Utah 2nd District, 1977-85; Candidate in primary for Governor of Utah, 1984 [19]
  • ... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Halifax Explosion
  • Mr. Albert  Marriott (1853-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries [20]
HMS Royal Oak
  • C. Marriott, British Marine with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking [21]
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. J.W. Marriott (d. 1912), aged 20, English Assistant Pantry man Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett [22]


  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. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  4. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  7. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  8. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  9. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  10. 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)
  11. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1824 with 9 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1824
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
  13. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 23rd August 2020 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/augusta-jessie
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st May 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cressy
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth-and-henry
  16. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  17. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  19. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  20. 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
  21. 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
  22. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook