Show ContentsMusselman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Musselman is one of the names that was brought to England in the wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Musselman family lived in Yorkshire, at Micklethwaite, an area of Wetherby on the south bank of the River Wharfe. Micklethwaite is also a hamlet in Cumbria, north east of Wigton.

Early Origins of the Musselman family

The surname Musselman was first found in Yorkshire where they were conjecturally descended from the great Norman house of Buron, and was represented by Erneis de Buron, who held the lands of Micklethwaite or Muceltuit at the taking of the Domesday Book in the year 1086. The Micklewright variant was a nickname for "'the mickle wright,' i.e. the big wright." 1

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Adam de Mekkclhawayth; Magota Mekkelwayth; Johanna de Mickilwayte; and William de Mickilwayte as all living in Yorkshire and holding lands at that time.

Micklethwaite-Grange is a very small liberty in the Upper division of the wapentake of Barkstone-Ash, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. And today, the town of Micklethwaite is a suburb of Bingley in the West Riding of Yorkshire. "This place is one of the thirty-two lordships granted by the Conqueror to Erneis de Berun." 2

Early History of the Musselman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Musselman research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1612, 1680, 1682, 1718, 1727 and 1734 are included under the topic Early Musselman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Musselman Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Musselman family name include Muclewaite, Micklethwait, Micklethwayt, Micklethwaite, Muclethwait, Muclethwaite, Muclethwayte and many more.

Early Notables of the Musselman family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir William Micklethwaite; Sir John Micklethwaite M.D. (1612-1682), an English physician, who attended Charles II, President of the Royal College of...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Musselman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Musselman Ranking

In the United States, the name Musselman is the 4,868th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 3


Musselman migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Musselman family to immigrate North America:

Musselman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Isaac Musselman, who arrived in Kansas in 1886
  • Isaac Musselman, aged 22, who arrived in Kansas in 1886 4

Musselman migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Musselman Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • David, Frederick and William Musselman all, who settled in Canada in 1831
  • David Musselman, who arrived in Canada in 1831
  • Frederick Musselman, who landed in Canada in 1831
  • William Musselman, who landed in Canada in 1836

Contemporary Notables of the name Musselman (post 1700) +

  • Eric P. Musselman (b. 1964), American basketball coach and the former head coach of the NBA's Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors
  • Jeffrey Joseph Musselman (b. 1963), American former professional baseball player
  • Otto Musselman, American politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1916 5
  • O. E. Musselman, American politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1920 5
  • Norman Musselman, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Nebraska, 1908 5
  • Karl Thomas Musselman, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 2004 5
  • J. T. Musselman, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1932 5
  • Floyd W. Musselman, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1956 (alternate), 1960 5
  • Carl B. Musselman, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1972 5
  • Amos S. Musselman, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Governor of Michigan, 1910 5
  • ... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Musselman 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: Favent numine
Motto Translation: By the favour of Providence.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  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. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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