Messiter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

It has been suggested that Messiter is an occupational name derived from the Middle English words "mash," which is malt and water for fermentation, and "rudder," which was the implement used to stir the mixture. "Although the evidence is not quite conclusive, this seems to be a nickname for one who steeped malt." 1 Another source adds: "this term evidently implies the implement used for mashing or mixing the malt, to which, from resemblance in form, the name rudder is also given." 2

Early Origins of the Messiter family

The surname Messiter was first found in Essex where the family name was first referenced in the 13th century when they held lands in that county. It would take centuries for the family to appear in rolls as the next entry was Richard Maschrother was listed as a Freeman of York in 1498. A few years later, again in Yorkshire, Robert Masherudder was listed there in 1517. 1

Johannes Mashrother and WIllelmus Masshrother were listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 3

Early History of the Messiter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Messiter research. Another 102 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487, 1517, 1536 and 1584 are included under the topic Early Messiter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Messiter Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Mashiter, Masseter, Masheder, Massiter, Masheter, Massheder, Messiter, Messeder, Messitter and many more.

Early Notables of the Messiter family

Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Messiter Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Messiter migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Messiter Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Richard Messiter, who landed in New York in 1818 4

Messiter migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Messiter Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Messiter, (b. 1819), aged 17, English labourer who was convicted in Somerset, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Eden" on 27th August 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
Mr. George Messiter, (b. 1823), aged 16, English labourer who was convicted in Somerset, England for 7 years for breaking and entering, transported aboard the "Egyptian" on 5th April 1839, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Messiter (post 1700) +

Uriah S. Messiter, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Sullivan County, 1893-94, 1896
Malcolm Messiter, English producer, known for his work on Just a Minute (2012), The Secret Garden (1975) and Arena (1975)
Eric Messiter (1892-1960), English actor, born on August 14, 1892 in Dudley, West Midlands, as Eric Hugh Messiter, known for Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950) and Lost Daughter (1949)
Ian Cassan Messiter (1920-1999), English BBC Radio producer and writer, known for his work on Just a Minute (1969), Mr Drake's Duck (1951) and Just a Minute (1969)
Brian Edward Messiter (b. 1938), Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s
Sean Messiter, Australian actor, known for Nightfall, Betrayals & Bullets: The Dame (2015) and Bad Romeo (2016)
Malcolm Messiter (b. 1949), British oboist, best known for his recording of the virtuosic "La Favorita" concerto by Antonio Pasculli, son of Ian Messiter

The Messiter 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: Spero et vivo
Motto Translation: I hope and live.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th January 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/egyptian