Marshall Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Marshall Family History

Marshall Family History

The family history of the ancient name Marshall was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. Marshall is an occupational name meaning 'horse servant' from a person who made his living looking after horses. In time, the position, like that of Constable and Steward, became one of great dignity. Variants of the name include Marshal and Marshel. This name is of Anglo-Norman descent spreading to Ireland, Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts in the above countries. Examples of such are a William de Marechal, of Cambridge, who was recorded in the 'Poll Tax' of the West Riding of Yorkshire in the year 1379 and a Maledoni Marescal who was witness to a gift of lands in Partick, Scotland, in the year 1136. In Ireland this name and its variants are found throughout the four Provinces but especially in Ulster Province. Marshall, along with many other names regarded as being Irish in origin, was introduced into Ireland at the time of the Norman invasion of 1170.The Marshall family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Marshall descendants.