Marsh 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 Marsh family name to the British Isles. They lived on the border between two territories, such as the Marches between England and Wales or on the English Scottish borders. The name may also have emerged as a nickname for someone born in the month of March.

Alternatively, the name could have been derived from the Old English word "mersc" and denoted a "dweller near a marsh." 1 2

Early Origins of the Marsh family

The surname Marsh was first found in Somerset where Godard de la Merse was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1194. Later, Henry del Merse was found in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1212 and William atte Mersche was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. The variant Mash dates back to 1524 when Robert Masshe was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk. 1

The name is "distributed over the greater part of England, but rare or absent north of Nottinghamshire and Lancashire. It has several centres, namely, in Cambridgeshire and Kent in the east, in Lancashire in the north, in Shropshire in the west, and in Wilts, Dorset, and Somerset in the south. Marsh is the name of a parish both in Shropshire and Kent." 3

There are "parishes in counties Buckingham and Lincoln. The Kentish family appear to have been in that county from the XIV. cent. The Latinization is De Marisco, and the medieval form is Ate-Mershe. The equivalent name Marais is common in France." 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Isabel ate Mershe, Oxfordshire and John in le Merse, Oxfordshire. 2

Early History of the Marsh family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Marsh research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1515, 1555, 1567, 1568, 1626, 1638, 1667, 1673, 1682, 1683, 1691, 1693, 1694, 1703, 1713, 1734 and 1782 are included under the topic Early Marsh History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Marsh 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 Marsh, Marsch, Marshe and others.

Early Notables of the Marsh family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Marsh World Ranking

In the United States, the name Marsh is the 457th most popular surname with an estimated 62,175 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Marsh is ranked the 706th most popular surname with an estimated 7,519 people with that name. 6 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Marsh is the 290th popular surname with an estimated 155 people with that name. 7 Australia ranks Marsh as 280th with 12,466 people. 8 New Zealand ranks Marsh as 169th with 3,136 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Marsh as 171st with 31,905 people. 10

Migration of the Marsh family to Ireland

Some of the Marsh family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Marsh migration to the United States +

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 Marsh or a variant listed above:

Marsh Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Marsh Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Marsh Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Marsh migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Marsh Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Marsh Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Marsh migration to Australia +

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

Marsh Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Marsh Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Marsh 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:

Marsh Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Marsh 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. 21
Marsh Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Marsh (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Marsh +
Fastest Delivery Possible

Digital Products on Checkout, all other products filled in 1 business day

Money Back Guarantee

Yes, all products 100% Guraranteed

BBB A+ Rating

The Best Rating possible

Secure Online Payment

Entire site uses SSL / Secure Certificate