Show ContentsMalser History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Malser has a long Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a family lived in the region of Maultby in various counties throughout England. Malser is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties.

Early Origins of the Malser family

The surname Malser was first found in Yorkshire at Maltby (Maultby) a former mining town and civil parish in South Yorkshire and/or at Maltby a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire. Maltby is also a hamlet in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire. The Yorkshire locals are by far the larger of the place names. There are three distinct listings in the Domesday Book of 1086 and all are spelt Maltbi.

The place name literally means "farmstead or village of a man called Malti," or "where the malt is made." 1

"This place was formerly the residence of a family of the same name, who continued in possession for several generations." 2

The parish of Acaster-Malbais in the union of York, partly in the Ainsty wapentake in the West Riding of Yorkshire was home to another branch of the family. "This place partly derives its name from the family of Malby, who flourished here for some centuries after the Conquest, until at length a daughter and heiress was married to Fairfax of Walton, created Viscount Emley." 2

"The manor of Ayton, in Cleveland, was, soon after Domesday, granted to the ancient family of Malebisse, and was held of the King i7i capite et dehonore. There was anciently a chapel here, built by Sir William Malebisse about the year 1215." Grave's Cleveland.

"Richard Malebisse in 1131 held one fee of the Honour of Eye (Rotul. Pip.) ; and his brother Hugh (Richard ii.'s father) made his will in 1138. They had large estates in various parts of the county, and others in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, where they held Kyneton of the Honour of Richmond." Gale's Richmondshire.

"Acaster Malbis, near York, which alone keeps the name in remembrance, is believed to have been one of their residences; and the second Richard had a house close to the city, at Clementhorpe on the Ouse. In 1191 he and his brother Hugh were excommunicated by the Pope as adherents and abettors of Prince John ; but he contrived to make his peace with the authorities, and in 1198 founded a Praemonstratensian Abbey at Newbo in Lincolnshire, endowing it with all his lands in the village of Newbo, the churches of Acaster, and Kyneton. John Malebisse was Joint-Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1314." 3

Early History of the Malser family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Malser research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1831 is included under the topic Early Malser History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Malser Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Malser have been found, including Maltby, Maltbie, Maltbe, Maultsby, Maltsby, Maltbey, Malebisse and many more.

Early Notables of the Malser family

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

Migration of the Malser family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Malser, or a variant listed above: John Maltby settled in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630; along with Robert and William; Samuel Maltby settled in Fairfield, Conn. in 1820.



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3


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