Mordel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Mordel reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Mordel family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Mordel is based on the popular medieval given name Martin. It derives from the Latin Martinus, which comes from Mars, the Roman God of War.

Early Origins of the Mordel family

The surname Mordel was first found in Essex where they held a family seat from at Abbess Roding. One of the most famous early references of the surname was William Martel (1130-1153), English steward of the royal households of King Henry I and King Stephen of England, castellan of Sherborne Castle until 1143. Some of the family were found at Whaddon in Buckinghamshire in early times. " A small priory of Benedictine monks, in honour of St. Leonard, was founded in this parish, at Snelleshall, prior to the time of Henry III., by Ralph Martel, and at the Dissolution had a revenue of £24." 1

Early History of the Mordel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mordel research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1130, 1143, 1153 and 1204 are included under the topic Early Mordel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mordel Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Mordel are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Mordel include Martel, Mortel, Martell, Mortell and others.

Early Notables of the Mordel family

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mordel Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Mordel family to Ireland

Some of the Mordel family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Mordel family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Mordel, or a variant listed above: K. Martell who settled in Boston in 1823; Antonio Martel settled in New Orleans in 1778 with Francesca his wife and children; Nicholas Martel settled in Louisiana in 1719..