Malever History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the Malever family first reached the shores of England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Their name is derived from the name Mauleverer, which at the time of the Norman Conquest, was the name of a noble Norman family. They held Maulevrier, near Rouen as their home. 1

"In the Bayeux Inquest 'feodum Malevrier in Asnieres debet servitium dim. mil.' ' Helto de Mauleverer held in Kent in 1086, and 1120 Helto, his son, witnessed the charter of Bolton, York." 2

Early Origins of the Malever family

The surname Malever was first found in the North Riding of Yorkshire where they held a family seat at Arncliffe Hall. They are descended from Sir Richard Mauleverer who accompanied Duke William of Normandy in his conquest of England in 1066 A.D. He was appointed master of the forests, chases, and parks north of the river Trent. Allerton-Mauleverer in the West Riding of Yorkshire was an ancient family seat. "This place obtained its distinguishing name from the family of Mauleverer, one of whom, named Richard, in the reign of Henry II. founded here an alien priory of Benedictine monks." 3

"The lands [of Ingleby Arncliffe in the West Riding of Yorkshire] are chiefly the property of William Mauleverer, Esq., the descendant of the Norman Baron who came over with the Conqueror from Normandy, and whose family have continued here since that period." 3

Early History of the Malever family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Malever research. Another 102 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1599, 1640, 1649 and 1655 are included under the topic Early Malever History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Malever Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Mauleverer, Malouverer, Maleverer, Malleverer and many more.

Early Notables of the Malever family

Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Malever Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Malever family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Malever or a variant listed above: Jonathon Mauleverer who landed in North America in 1700.

The Malever 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: En dieu ma foy
Motto Translation: My faith is in God.

Citations +

Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.