Show ContentsMachell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Machell family

The surname Machell was first found in Westmorland where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the 11th century when they held estates in that shire. One of the first records of the name was Halthe le Machel who was listed there during the reign of Henry I. Humfrey le Machel was also listed in the rolls of Henry II. These latter rolls also lists William Malus Catulus in 1179 and William Manchel in 1206. [1]

Early History of the Machell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Machell research. Another 167 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1000, 1234, 1374, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1536, 1600, 1614, 1637, 1663, 1666, 1670, 1671, 1699, 1702, 1704 and 1765 are included under the topic Early Machell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Machell Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Machell have been found, including Machell, Machael, Mauchel, Mauchell, Machel, Mackell, Mackel, Mauckell, Mauckel, Maukel and many more.

Early Notables of the Machell family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • John Machell (1637-1704), Member of Parliament for Horsham, Sussex, from Hills Place Horsham...
  • Machell and a close relative called him to an ale-house where Machell beat Gott so badly he broke his arm...
  • Machell and his relative were indicted, convicted and sentenced to fines of £1000 and £500 respectively...
  • Later, Machell's daughter, Isabella Machell (1670-1765) married Arthur Ingram (1666-1702), 3rd Viscount of Irvine, Lord Lieutenant of the North Riding of Yorkshire (1699-1702) and had nine sons...

Migration of the Machell family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Machell, or a variant listed above: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..


Contemporary Notables of the name Machell (post 1700) +

  • Captain James Octavius Machell (1837-1902), English horse trainer and influential figure in British horse racing in the late 1800s; he owned a record three Grand National winners

RMS Lusitania
  • Miss Elizabeth Machell, English Stewardess from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking [2]


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/


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