Mechen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Early Origins of the Mechen family

The surname Mechen was first found in Shropshire where the family name was first referenced in the 12th century when Richard, son of Mescelin, held the estates in 1187. He is believed to be descended from William de Meschines, younger brother of Ranulph, 3rd Earl of Chester, who was descended from the Viscounts of Bessin, in the Department of Calvados in Normandy, and who held the honor of Skipton, in Yorkshire, from Richard Banistre, a Norman Baron of Cheshire who also held lands in Capite in Shropshire. Robert is mentioned as witness to a deed in 1106. There is also a vague relationship to Robert of Rhudlan, kinsman of Duke William. Richard, descendent of William, who was an under-tenant in Shropshire in 1187.

Up in Cumberland, more early records of the family were found. "The township lies between the river Ehen on the east, and the Irish Sea on the west, and contains the venerable remains of Egremont Castle, built soon after the Conquest by William de Meschines, the first Baron of Copeland, and still exhibiting traces of strength and grandeur." 1

Early History of the Mechen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mechen research. Another 191 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1165, 1172, 1203, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1600, 1611, 1660, 1679, 1811 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Mechen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mechen Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Mascelin, Maskelyne, Maskelyne, Masculine, Masculyne, Maslen, Maslin, Mechen, Meshin, Machine, Miskin, Meskin, Meschine and many more.

Early Notables of the Mechen family

Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mechen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Mechen family to Ireland

Some of the Mechen family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 102 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mechen migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mechen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Jose Mechen, aged 27, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1843 2

Mechen Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Arthur W. Mechen, who landed in America, in 1910
J. Gresham Mechen, aged 30, who landed in America, in 1911
William Mechen, aged 32, who immigrated to the United States from Pethgo, Ireland, in 1913
Frank Mechen, aged 30, who settled in America, in 1921

Contemporary Notables of the name Mechen (post 1700) +

William Mechen (1852-1880), English cricket right-handed batsman

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
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)