Marsters History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Marsters thought to be of Norman heritage. It is a name for a person who was a person who behaved in a masterful manner. This was also an occupational name for a person who was the master of his craft deriving from the Old French word maistre, and the Old English word maister.

"There are three places called 'Les Moutiers,' 'Monasteria,' in the department of Calvados in Normandy; but if he were a Breton, as seems probable, Moutiers near La Guerche may be the more likely place for him to have come from. Robert, however, was no doubt a near relation of 'Lisois de Monasteriis,' a brave knight in the Conqueror's army in the Northern campaign of 1069, who, when the river Aire had stopped their progress for three weeks, sought for a ford both above and below, and at last with great difficulty discovered one, by which he crossed over at the head of sixty bold men-at-arms, and though assailed by the enemy with great force stoutly held his ground." 1

Early Origins of the Marsters family

The surname Marsters was first found in Yorkshire where "Robert 'de Mosters' was a tenant of Earl Alan's in Yorkshire 1086, and also held Truswell in Nottinghamshire, part of the great Richmond Fee." 1

According to Thoroton, Truswell or Tireswell was held by seven generations of Robert's descendants. Lisiardus de Monasterio, and Gundra his sister, occur in the county 1194-99 (Rotuli Curiae Regis): and Robert, in 1279, held two fees " pro Warda Castri de Richmond." - Gale's Richmondshire.

Early History of the Marsters family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Marsters research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1600, 1610, 1624, 1627, 1637, 1639, 1640, 1653, 1660, 1661, 1662, 1663, 1675, 1679, 1680, 1684, 1685, 1687, 1690, 1691, 1710, 1715 and 1720 are included under the topic Early Marsters History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Marsters Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Master, Masters, Mosters, Measter, DeMaster and many more.

Early Notables of the Marsters family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Streynsham Master; Sir William Master (1600-1662) was an English politician, High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1627; his son Thomas Master (1624-1680), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1660; John Master (1637-c.1680), an English physician; William Master (1627-1684), an English divine and writer; Sir Edward Master(s) (1610-1691), an English politician...
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Marsters Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Marsters migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Marsters or a variant listed above were:

Marsters Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Lewis Marsters, aged 25, originally from London, who arrived in New York in 1897 aboard the ship "Paris" from Southampton, England 2

Marsters Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Willington Marsters, aged 29, who arrived in New York City, New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Lake Buckeye" from Gucaro, Cuba 2
Geo. E. Marsters, aged 38, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1919 from Antwerp, Belgium 2
Frank Marsters, aged 39, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Ulua" from Havana, Cuba 2

Marsters migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Marsters Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Abr Marsters, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1760
Jona Marsters, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1760
Moses Marsters, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1760

Contemporary Notables of the name Marsters (post 1700) +

Nathaniel Marsters (1758-1843), American UEL descendant, farmer, magistrate and politician who represented Onslow township in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1806 to 1818
James Carlyle Marsters (1924-2009), American deaf orthodontist who in 1964 helped invent the first teletypewriter device capable of being used with telephone lines
James Wesley Marsters (b. 1962), American actor and musician
Charles E. Marsters (1883-1962), American lacrosse player
William Marsters (1831-1899), born Richard Masters, an English adventurer from Leicestershire who settled on Palmerston Island in the Cook Islands on 8 July 1863, with his Polynesian wife and two Polynesian mistresses, progenitor of the Marsters family of Palmerston Island
Nathan Marsters (1980-2009), Canadian professional NHL ice hockey goaltender who was killed in an automobile accident with a deer in West Lincoln, Ontario, on June 8, 2009
Tom John Marsters (b. 1945), the 7th Queen's Representative to the Cook Islands
William Fatianga "Bill" Marsters (1923-2004), first president of the Cook Islands Christian Church

The Marsters 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: Non minor est virtus quam quaerere parta tueri
Motto Translation: It is no less an achievement to keep possession than to acquire it.

Citations +

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
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result