Machen History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe Welsh Machen surname is thought to derived from name of the village of Machen, located near Caerphilly, in the county of Monmouthshire. Alternatively, the name could have been derived from the name of an ancestor as in 'the son of Matthew.' [1] Early Origins of the Machen familyThe surname Machen was first found in Monmouthshire (Welsh: Sir Fynwy), at Machen, a parish, in the union of Newport, partly in the hundred of Wentlloog, South Wales. [2] Early History of the Machen familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Machen research. Another 65 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1541, 1600, 1614 and 1675 are included under the topic Early Machen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Machen Spelling VariationsWelsh surnames are relatively few in number, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. There are many factors that explain the preponderance of Welsh variants, but the earliest is found during the Middle Ages when Welsh surnames came into use. Scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, which often resulted in a single person's name being inconsistently recorded over his lifetime. The transliteration of Welsh names into English also accounts for many of the spelling variations: the unique Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh had many sounds the English language was incapable of accurately reproducing. It was also common for members of a same surname to change their names slightly, in order to signify a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations. For all of these reasons, the many spelling variations of particular Welsh names are very important. The surname Machen has occasionally been spelled Machen, Machin, Machon, Mackon, Makin, Makins, MacMacken and many more. Early Notables of the Machen familyProminent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was
Machen RankingIn the United States, the name Machen is the 12,010th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [3] Migration of the Machen family to IrelandSome of the Machen family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
The Welsh migration to North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries contributed greatly to its rapid development. These migrants were in search of land, work, and freedom. Those Welsh families that survived the long ocean journey were critical to the development of new industries and factories, and to the quick settlement of land. They also added to an ever-growing rich cultural heritage. A search of the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Machen: Machen Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Machen Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Machen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
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