After the forces of
Strongbow invaded
Ireland they discovered that the Irish had their own system of
hereditary surnames. Although the two naming systems had many similarities,
occupational surnames, such as Mailler were much more common to the Anglo-Norman culture of the Strongbownians.
Occupational surnames were derived from a word describing the actual job done by the initial name bearer. The prefix le, meaning the, in French was often used by the early Strongbownians to link a person's first and name and surname. Eventually these prefixes were dropped or became fused onto the beginning of the surname. The surname came from a common occupational name for an enameler. The surname Mailler is derived from the Old French word esmaileur, which has this meaning. The name Mailler is also occasionally derived from the
Welsh personal name Meilyr, which was Maglorix in Old
Welsh. The Gaelic forms of the surname Mailler are Maoilir and Mac Maoilir.
Early Origins of the Mailler family
The surname Mailler was first found in
Wales. One of the first recorded ancestors bearing this name was Nicholas Meyler, Canon of St.David's in South
Wales in 1202. We know that at least one branch of the family accompanied
Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke on his invasion of
Ireland in 1172. There, settling in
Wexford, some of the family adopted the Gaelic of Maoilir, and some even became MacMeyler and McMeyler. George Meyler and Walter Meyler where notables of this branch at Tincurry,
Wexford. Meanwhile, a branch of the family settled in
Shropshire, where Henry and Walter Meyler were registered in 1273.
Early History of the Mailler family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mailler research.
Another 239 words (17 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mailler History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Mailler Spelling Variations
During an investigation of the origin of each name, it was found that church officials and medieval scribes spelled many surnames as they sounded. Therefore, during the lifetime of a single person, a name could be spelt numerous ways. Some of the
spelling variations for the name Mailler include Meyler, Mailer, Mailler, Mayler, Meiler, Meiller, Maylor, MacMeyler, McMeyler, McMailor, McMeiler, Meilir and many more.
Early Notables of the Mailler family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Mailler Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Mailler family to the New World and Oceana
Ireland went through one of the most devastating periods in its history with the arrival of the
Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. Many also lost their lives from typhus, fever and dysentery. And poverty was the general rule as
tenant farmers were often evicted because they could not pay the high rents. Emigration to North America gave hundreds of families a chance at a life where work, freedom, and land ownership were all possible. For those who made the long journey, it meant hope and survival. The Irish emigration to British North America and the United States opened up the gates of industry, commerce, education and the arts. Early immigration and passenger lists have shown many Irish people bearing the name Mailler: John Meyler settled in Virginia in 1705;
Lewis Meyler settler in Mobile, Ala. in 1856.
Contemporary Notables of the name Mailler (post 1700)
- Lee Beattie Mailler (1898-1967), American Republican politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Orange County 1st District, 1934-54 [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Mailler 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: Amor patriae vincit
Motto Translation: Patriotism conquers.