Margen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The lineage of the name Margen begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It is a result of when they lived in Marsham in Norfolk, or in the place called Mersham in Kent. 1 The surname Margen belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Margen family

The surname Margen was first found in Norfolk at Marsham, a parish, in the union of Aylsham, hundred of South Erpingham. 2 The parish dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was first listed as Marsam. 3 Literally the place name means "homestead or village by a marsh," from the Old English words "mersc" + "ham." 4 Mersham is a parish, in the union of East Ashford, hundred of Chart and Longbridge, lathe of Shepway. 2 The first record of the name was Leofstan aet Merseham c. 1060 who was listed in the reference Old English Bynames. Benjamin de Merseham was listed in the Feet of Fines of Kent in 1236 and John de Marsham was listed in the Coroner Rolls of London in 1336. 1 Some of the family were found at Stratton-Strawless in Norfolk since very early times. "The Hall, a large mansion of white brick, in a well-wooded park, is the seat of R. Marsham, Esq., in whose family it has remained since the time of Edward the First." 2

Early History of the Margen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Margen research. Another 124 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1130, 1280, 1510, 1518, 1602, 1637, 1650, 1679, 1685, 1692, 1696, 1698, 1702, 1703, 1708, 1716 and 1724 are included under the topic Early Margen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Margen Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Margen has undergone many spelling variations, including Marsham, Marshan, Marshom, Marshon, Marshman and others.

Early Notables of the Margen family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir John Marsham, 1st Baronet of Cuckston (1602-1685), an English antiquary known as a writer on chronology; Sir John Marsham, 2nd Baronet (1637-1692); Sir John Marsham, 3rd Baronet (1679-1696); Sir Robert Marsham...
Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Margen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Margen migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Margen were among those contributors:

Margen Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Anne Margen, who arrived in Virginia in 1711 5

Margen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Peter Margen, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1854 5

The Margen 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 sibi sed patriae
Motto Translation: Not for himself, but for his country.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)