Skip to content
  • Start free trial

Origins of the Marshall surname

A collage of historical images including two family portraits and a postcard of people boarding a ship

What does the name Marshall mean?

The Marshall surname is English in origin, and thought to have arrived with the Norman conquest, appearing in records as early as the 1100s. Marshall is believed to be an occupational surname, coming from the same root as the French 'marechal' (farrier or horse-servant). It was given to those who worked with horses, from the masters of horses (the title itself later became applied to those who were in dignified and honourable office) to those who cared for them as grooms or farriers. More rarely, the surname Marshall could be applied to someone who had a particular love of horses and their descendants.

Alternative variations of the name Marshall

Marshall, Marshal, Marischal, Marshell, Marshel

“

I’ve managed to trace back to the mid-1500s! I can’t believe it! Utterly engrossing and I have uncovered some quite moving and heartbreaking stories attached to various ancestors. You don’t need any qualifications to start - just time patience, and some information.

SS
Stuart
TrustPilot review
1 of 3

Start your family tree

Trace your family back in time. Make new discoveries and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Marshalls.

Sign up to get started

Delve deeper into the Marshall family's history

Where do most Marshalls live?

In 1921, most Marshalls lived in Yorkshire.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Marshalls

How common is your surname?

56th most common surname in the UK

We have 492,000 records for the Marshall surname. The oldest one dates back to 1220.

Who were Marshalls most likely to marry?

Smiths

&

Browns

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Marshalls.

What are the most common Marshall first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Marshall family members

Common jobs for Marshalls

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Marshalls in 1921
Dressmaker

2,129

Domestic Servant

1,296

Laundress

1,179

General Servant Domestic

980

Housekeeper

916

Common Male occupations for Marshalls in 1921
Agricultural Labourer

2,237

Coal Miner

2,145

General Labourer

1,631

Farmer

1,453

Joiner

1,174

An image of a census transcript and a picture of a dairy farmer holding two milk jugs

Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more.

We found over 440,000 family trees with the Marshall surname

Trace your family back in time and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Marshalls.

Search for a relative in our family trees

Share your discoveries

Find out more about your family in our records

or try an advanced search

Start your family history journey

Start free trial

Start free trial