Show ContentsMusk History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Musk is one of the thousands of new names that the Norman Conquest brought to England in 1066. The Musk family lived in Mousquette, Normandy, and ventured to England shortly after the Conquest in 1066. 1

Early Origins of the Musk family

The surname Musk was first found in Cambridgeshire where "William Muschet held of the Bishop of Ely in 1165. Later, he was Sheriff of Cambridgeshire 2 Richard I., as was William 'filius John Muschet' 6,9,11 and 12 Edward III.

Muschetts, a small manor still held under the Bishop of Ely, retains their name. Adam de Muschet, about 1240, held under Robert de Waledom at Great Peatling in Leicestershire. John Musket was Lord of Heccecomb, Somersetshire, in 1316. Robert Muschett of Gloucestershire and Hertfordshire, Ralph Muskett of Hertfordshire only, in the time of Edward I. At the same date 'Dominus William Muschett' was a considerable proprietor in Kent, and held land in Huntingdonshire. Roger Mushett gave some land at Benney to the Preceptory of Temple Rothley. In Dorsetshire, John Muskett held in Winterborne- St. Martin 20 Ed. III." 2

"The name occurs in Scotland from a very early period, but was there used as a familiar form of Montfichet. 'The corruption of names, arising from a tendency to abbreviate, and to adopt leading sounds, is conspicuous in the following instances, some of which occur in the Ragman Roll' " 2

Robert Osketell Muschet was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Suffolk in 1177 and later William Musket was found the Feet of Fines for Norfolk c. 1210. Later again, William Mouchet was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1327. 3

Early History of the Musk family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Musk research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) covering the year 1598 is included under the topic Early Musk History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Musk Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Musket, Muscat, Muscet, Muskett, Muskatt, Muskat, Muskot, Muskott, Mousket, Mouskett, Mouskette, Mousquette, Muskit, Muskitt and many more.

Early Notables of the Musk family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • William Muskett of Haughleigh in Suffolk


Musk migration to Australia +

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

Musk Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Robert Musk, British convict who was convicted in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Cornwall" on 28th February 1851, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Musk (post 1700) +

  • Elon Reeve Musk FRS (b. 1971), South African businessman and investor known for his key roles in space company SpaceX and automotive company Tesla, Inc, as of July 2024, Forbes estimates his net worth to be US$221 billion
  • Tosca Musk (b. 1974), South African filmmaker, executive producer and director of feature films, television programs, and web content, younger sister of Elon Musk and Kimbal Musk
  • Jennifer Justine Musk (b. 1972), née Wilson, Canadian author
  • Maye Musk (b. 1948), née Haldeman, Canadian model, dietitian and author who has appeared on the covers of magazines, including a Time magazine health edition, Women's Day, international editions of Vogue, and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, mother of Elon Musk, Kimbal Musk and Tosca Musk
  • Kimbal James Musk (b. 1972), South African restaurateur, chef, and entrepreneur, owner of The Kitchen Restaurant Group, a collection of restaurants located in Colorado and Chicago, brother of Elon Musk


  1. 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)
  2. 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
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cornwall


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