Malpus History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The vast movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066 brought the Malpus family name to the British Isles. They lived in Malpas, a parish in the union of Wrexham in the county of Cheshire.

Early Origins of the Malpus family

The surname Malpus was first found in Cheshire at Malpas, a large village and former market town, in the unions of Nantwich, Great Boughton, and Wrexham, chiefly in the Higher division of the hundred of Broxton. The barony formed part of the possessions of Earl Edwin prior to the Conquest, and was given by the first Norman earl of Chester to Robert Fitz-Hugh, one of the eight barons of his parliament. The castle, the head of the barony, was built soon after the Conquest, and stood immediately adjoining the church, but today all that is left is a circular mound, on which the keep stood. The place name literally means "the difficult passage" from the Old French words mal + pas.

Early History of the Malpus family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Malpus research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1625 and 1668 are included under the topic Early Malpus History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Malpus Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Malpas, Malpus, Malpass and others.

Early Notables of the Malpus family

More information is included under the topic Early Malpus Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Malpus family to Ireland

Some of the Malpus family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Malpus family

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Malpus or a variant listed above: George Malpas arrived in Philadelphia in 1856.