Contents [hide]

Marden History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Marden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Marden

What does the name Marden mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Marden comes from when the family resided in the settlements named Marsden in Lancashire and the West Riding of Yorkshire. The surname Marden belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Marden family

The surname Marden was first found in Lancashire at Great Marsden or Little Marsden. "This place was anciently called Merclesden, and Merlesden. In the 35th of Henry III., Edmund de Lacy obtained a charter for free warren in "Great and Little Merlesden;" and in the 4th of Edward II., a fishery existed here, by grant from Henry de Lacy. Richard Merclesden was master forester of Blackburnshire to Isabella, dowager queen, in the reign of Edward III.; and in the same reign, Henry, Duke of Lancaster, granted a tract of land in Merclesden to Richard de Walton. " 1 Another reference lists the place name as Marchesden in the 12th century and probably meant "boundary water." 2 However, we believe that the former origin of the place name and surname is more likely. One of the earliest records of the name was Alan de Marchesden who was listed in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1246. 3 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1273 listed Robert de Marcheden, Nicholaus Mercheden and Johanna de Mersseden. 4

Early History of the Marden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Marden research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1625, 1680, 1681, 1688 and 1738 are included under the topic Early Marden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Marden Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Marden include Marsden, Marsdon and others.

Early Notables of the Marden family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Marden Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Marden Ranking

In the United States, the name Marden is the 9,425^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5

Marden migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Marden Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William Marden, who arrived in Virginia in 1700 6
Samuel Marden, who landed in America in 1782 6
Samuel Marden, who arrived in America in 1782 6

Marden Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Marden, aged 32, who arrived in New York in 1812 6
Joaquin Marden, aged 31, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1858 6
Clara Marden, aged 4, who landed in New York in 1862 6
Harriet Marden, aged 7, who arrived in New York in 1862 6
Sarah Marden, aged 34, who landed in New York in 1862 6

Marden migration to Australia +

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

Marden Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mary Marden, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "City of London" in 1840 7
Hannah Marden, aged 57, a servant, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Sultana" in 1850 8
Margaret Marden, aged 18, a servant, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Sultana" in 1850 8
Edward Marden, aged 14, a servant, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Sultana" in 1850 8
Hannah Marden, aged 57, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Sultana" 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Marden 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:

Marden Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Richard Marden, (b. 1848), aged 26, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Dorette" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 14th April 1874 9
Mrs. Hannah Marden, (b. 1848), aged 26, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Dorette" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 14th April 1874 9
Mr. Frederick Marden, (b. 1871), aged 3, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Dorette" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 14th April 1874 9
Miss Georgina Marden, (b. 1873), aged 8 months, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Dorette" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 14th April 1874 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Marden (post 1700) +

Brice Marden Jr. (1938-2023), born Nicholas Brice Marden Jr., an American artist from Bronxville, New York who painted in the Minimalist style
Harold C. Marden (d. 1994), American politician, Mayor of Waterville, Maine, 1946-47; Justice of Maine State Supreme Court, 1962-70 10
Fred N. Marden, American politician, Member of New Hampshire State Senate 10th District, 1907-08; Mayor of Concord, New Hampshire; Elected 1927 10
Dororthy Marden, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Maine, 1944 10
Donald Marden, American politician, Mayor of Waterville, Maine, 1968-69 10
Albert L. Marden, American politician, Member of Vermont State House of Representatives from Weathersfield, 1888 10
Albert J. Marden, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New Hampshire 1st District, 1910 10
Mr. Nicholas Marden L.V.O. (b. 1950), born in Colombo, Ceylon, Sri-Lanka, British former Private Secretary to The Duke of Kent, was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order on 29th December 2018 11
Horace Marden Albright (1890-1987), American conservationist and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom

The Marden 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: Mars denique victor es
Motto Translation: Mars, though art the conqueror.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CITY OF LONDON 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840CityOfLondon.gif
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SULTANA 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Sultana.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
"Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists