Maxwell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Scotland 
  Ireland 


The Maxwell surname is a habitation name derived from a place named Maxwell near Melrose in country Roxburgh. The place name derives from the Old English personal name "Maccus," and the Old English word "weil" Old English for a stream or spring. Alternatively, the name comes from when the family lived in or near Maxwell, a salmon pool located on the Tweed River near Kelso Bridge. 1

Early Origins of the Maxwell family

The surname Maxwell was first found in Roxburghshire. The earliest record of the name Maxwell was of a Herbert de Maccusweil, who moved to Scotland from England, where he came to hold the land at Max's weil or Maccusweil, and flourished under the kings Malcolm IV and William I in the second half of the 12th century. It is thought that Herbert was of Norman stock; even though the name itself had older roots. Of his sons, John de Maccuswell was recorded as Great Chamberlain of Scotland, and as Sheriff of Teviotdale. He came to have the barony of Cærlaverock in Dumfries, and is on record as a resident of that country in 1221.

Another son Aymer de Maxwell was the first use the modern spelling of his surname; he migrated to the Scottish county of Peebles, where he was recorded as Eymer de Mackisuuell in 1262. Aymer married Mary, daughter of Sir Roland de Mearns, heiress of the barony of Renfrew from which would come the lines of Maxwell of Pollock and Maxwell of Calderwood. Branches were also established in Roxburgh and Berwick. 2

"Maxwell: A Maccus was one of the gallant three who defended the bridge at Maldon in 991. Maccus was the name of one of David I.'s foreign favourites - probably Anglo-Norman - and he was given large possessions. He called his chief place of residence Maccusville. 3

Other records show "Herbert de Macuswell or Maxwell, the ancestor of the house, had a son, Sir John de Macuswell, who was sheriff of Roxburghshire in 1203 and 1207. " 4

Over the southern border in England, early Yorkshire records show Herbert de Makeswell in the Pipe Rolls of 1190. 1

Robert Maxwell, 5th Lord Maxwell (d. 1546), "was descended from a family which, probably originally from England, settled in Scotland at Maccuswell or Maxwell, on the Tweed, near Kelso, in or before the reign of David I. Ewen Maccuswel of Caerlaverock, Dumfriesshire, assisted Malcolm Canmore at the siege of Alnwick in 1093, and it is with Dumfriesshire and Galloway that the subsequent history of the Maxwells is chiefly associated. Sir Herbert Maxwell won special renown for his defence of the castle of Caerlaverock against the army of Edward I in 1300, and in the subsequent wars its possession was frequently in dispute. The lordship of Maxwell dates from about 1428. The fifth lord was the eldest son of John, fourth lord, killed at Flodden, 9 Sept. 1513, his mother being Agnes, daughter of Sir Alexander Stewart of Garlies, ancestor of the Earls of Galloway." 5

Early History of the Maxwell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Maxwell research. Another 175 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1320, 1454, 1512, 1552, 1581, 1583, 1586, 1593, 1620, 1646, 1676, 1708, 1715, 1716, 1720, 1744, 1762, 1775, 1787, 1797, 1800, 1831 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Maxwell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Maxwell Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Maxwaile, Makiswell, Makiswel, Makeswell, Maxwell, Maxwel, Maxswel, Maxville, Maxvile, Maxuel, Makeswel, Maxweel, Maxwale, Maxswell, Maxwal, Maxwaul, Maxwaale, Maxwul, Maxwail and many more.

Early Notables of the Maxwell family

Notables of the family at this time include

Maxwell World Ranking

In the United States, the name Maxwell is the 404th most popular surname with an estimated 69,636 people with that name. 6 However, in Canada, the name Maxwell is ranked the 667th most popular surname with an estimated 7,839 people with that name. 7 And in Australia, the name Maxwell is the 364th popular surname with an estimated 9,947 people with that name. 8 New Zealand ranks Maxwell as 205th with 2,716 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Maxwell as 497th with 12,968 people. 10

Migration of the Maxwell family to Ireland

Some of the Maxwell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 80 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Maxwell migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

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

Maxwell migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

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

Maxwell migration to Australia +

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

Maxwell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Maxwell 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:

Maxwell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Maxwell 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
Maxwell Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Maxwell (post 1700) +


The Maxwell 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: Reviresco
Motto Translation: I flourish again.


Suggested Readings for the name Maxwell +
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