Show ContentsMuskett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Muskett

What does the name Muskett mean?

Muskett is a name whose history on English soil dates back to the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066. The Muskett family lived in Mousquette, Normandy, and ventured to England shortly after the Conquest in 1066. 1

Early Origins of the Muskett family

The surname Muskett 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 Muskett family

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

Muskett Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Musket, Muscat, Muscet, Muskett, Muskatt, Muskat, Muskot, Muskott, Mousket, Mouskett, Mouskette, Mousquette, Muskit, Muskitt and many more.

Early Notables of the Muskett family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • William Muskett of Haughleigh in Suffolk


Muskett migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Muskett or a variant listed above:

Muskett Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Sarah Muskett, who settled in Virginia in 1670
Muskett Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Muskett, aged 34, who arrived in Maryland in 1813 4

Muskett migration to Australia +

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

Muskett Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mary Muskett, aged 21, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Prince Regent" 5
  • Mary Muskett, aged 21, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Prince Regent" in 1851 5

Muskett migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Muskett Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • J. Muskett, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mermaid" in 1861 6
  • Mr. Muskett, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Glenmark" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 12th December 1868 7
  • Mrs. Muskett, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Glenmark" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 12th December 1868 7
  • Miss Caroline Muskett, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Glenmark" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 12th December 1868 7

Muskett migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 8
Muskett Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • William Muskett, who settled in Jamaica in 1679

Contemporary Notables of the name Muskett (post 1700) +

  • Arthur Edmund Muskett OBE, DSc, ARCS, MRIA, FIBiol., Professor of Plant Pathology, and Head of the Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, and Author, Belfast, Ireland
  • Netta Muskett (1887-1963), British writer of more than 60 romance novels from 1927 to 1963 who also used the pseudonym Anne Hill, vice-president of the Romantic Novelists' Association
  • Jennie Muskett, British Emmy Award winning and BAFTA nominated film and television composer


  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. 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)
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PRINCE REGENT 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851PrinceRegent.htm
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  7. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies


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