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| Origins Available: |
| | England |
The Anglo-Saxon name Merchden comes from when the family resided in the settlements named Marsden in Lancashire and the West Riding of Yorkshire. The surname Merchden belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.
The surname Merchden was first found in Lancashire at Great Marsden or Little Marsden. "This place was anciently called Merclesden, and Merlesden. In the 35th of Henry III., Edmund de Lacy obtained a charter for free warren in "Great and Little Merlesden;" and in the 4th of Edward II., a fishery existed here, by grant from Henry de Lacy. Richard Merclesden was master forester of Blackburnshire to Isabella, dowager queen, in the reign of Edward III.; and in the same reign, Henry, Duke of Lancaster, granted a tract of land in Merclesden to Richard de Walton. " 1 Another reference lists the place name as Marchesden in the 12th century and probably meant "boundary water." 2 However, we believe that the former origin of the place name and surname is more likely. One of the earliest records of the name was Alan de Marchesden who was listed in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1246. 3 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1273 listed Robert de Marcheden, Nicholaus Mercheden and Johanna de Mersseden. 4
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Merchden research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1625, 1680, 1681, 1688 and 1738 are included under the topic Early Merchden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Merchden has been recorded under many different variations, including Marsden, Marsdon and others.
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Merchden Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Merchden or a variant listed above: Francis Marsden settled in Virginia in 1635; Christopher Marsden settled in Virginia in 1700; Charles, Denton, Edward, Francis, George, Horatio, James, John, Thomas and William Marsden all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860..