Surname Marfell - Meaning and Origin
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Marfell: What does the surname Marfell mean?
The last name Marfell is of Old English origin, originating from Anglia in northwestern England. It is an occupational surname for a person who kept and maintained the meadows or marshes on a manor. Mar comes from the Old English word "mearc", meaning boundary, and "felle", meaning field.
Marfell is believed to have been created in the High Middle Ages, and medieval records document the earliest records of the surname under the variant 'Mersfit'. Such records primarily appeared at the Cuxham Hundred court in present-day Oxfordshire in the years 1222 and 1227, as well as a few other localities in Wales and Scotland.
The surname earned its place in English history over the past eight centuries, being borne by members of high status families. One such notable family was the prominent Marfell family of Cornwall, who held a landed estate throughout the Middle Ages and established many prominent families in the region. Members of this family were known to have served on both sides of the Civil War.
Given its origin, the surname Marfell is associated with strong ties to the land, with respect for the boundaries set between properties and farmer families. It is a name signifying a long-held tradition of maintaining the land, and representing the strong sense of community found throughout England driven by a family’s commitment to hard work and land stewardship.
Order DNA origin analysisMarfell: Where does the name Marfell come from?
The last name Marfell is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, most common in England, particularly in the North West. The majority of Marfells live in the counties of Lancashire, Cheshire, and Yorkshire.
Marfell is likely derived from an Old English personal name,Merefelda, which is composed of the elements “mere,” meaning “pleasant,” and “feld,” meaning “open country.” Thus, denoting a person who dwells in a pleasant open country or a broad meadow.
The Marfell surname dates back as far as 1423, when Thomas de Marfeld, is mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, England. By the 16th century, several branches of the Marfell family had settled in Lancashire, as evidenced by the Marriage Licence Bond of Robert Marfell of the Chapelry of Bispham near Garstang. In 1891, the name was found primarily in Lancashire, where the greatest numbers resided. Sometime later, the Marfell family branched out to London, as well as other parts of the country.
The Marfell family is proud of its long and storied history. After generations of growth in England, many Marfell families have branched out to other countries, including Canada, Australia, the United States, and New Zealand. This allows the Marfell name to be heard comfortably around the globe.
Variations of the surname Marfell
The surname Marfell is derived from the English word 'marflet,' which in turn comes from the French word 'marmaille,' meaning a small or insignificant object. Variations of this surname include Marflett, Marffle, Marfill, Marfel, Marful, Marfey, Marfie and Marfit. Additional spellings include Marfelle, Marvelt, Marflet, Merfelt and Merfel.
In some cases, individuals with the Marfell surname anglicized the spelling of their surname for various reasons, such as to make it easier to pronounce or write. For example, Marfel often became Marvel, Marfett became Marforth, Marfeu became Marfey, and Marvau became Marvell.
There are a few variations of this surname that are not related to the original French root. For example, some individuals with the Marsfele surname have their origin in Switzerland, while families bearing the Marsfeld surname come from Germany.
In some cases, individuals with the Marfell surname also adopted a prefix to their surname. Common surnames associated with the Marfell family include McFel, MacFell, McFelle, MacFelle, McFellow, MacFellow, Marfeu and MacFeu.
Overall, the Marfell surname has a variety of related spellings and surnames. While the majority of these are variants or anglicized versions of the original French root, there are a few unrelated variations as well.
Famous people with the name Marfell
- Joel Marfell: British radio presenter and stand-up comedian
- Grant Marfell: professional rugby league footballer
- Clint Marfell: former American football player
- Barry Marfell: former Australian rules footballer
- Glenn Marfell: New Zealand former international cricketer
- Bertha Marfell: American television journalist
- Marc Marfell: American film producer
- James Marfell: English Association footballer
- Bob Marfell: former MLB right-handed pitcher
- David Marfell: former NFL defensive lineman
- Mary Marfell: American actress
- Hannah Marfell: American model
- Taco Marfell: Dutch professional footballer
- April Marfell: American singer-songwriter and dancer
- Andrew Marfell: American poker player
- William Marfell: British painter