Contents [hide]

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

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Master History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Etymology of Master

What does the name Master mean?

The Master surname, of Norman ancestry, was a name given to a person who behaved in a masterful manner. This was also an occupational name for a person who was the master of his craft deriving from the Old French word maistre, and the Old English word maister.

"There are three places called 'Les Moutiers,' 'Monasteria,' in the department of Calvados in Normandy; but if he were a Breton, as seems probable, Moutiers near La Guerche may be the more likely place for him to have come from. Robert, however, was no doubt a near relation of 'Lisois de Monasteriis,' a brave knight in the Conqueror's army in the Northern campaign of 1069, who, when the river Aire had stopped their progress for three weeks, sought for a ford both above and below, and at last with great difficulty discovered one, by which he crossed over at the head of sixty bold men-at-arms, and though assailed by the enemy with great force stoutly held his ground." 1

Early Origins of the Master family

The surname Master was first found in Yorkshire where "Robert 'de Mosters' was a tenant of Earl Alan's in Yorkshire 1086, and also held Truswell in Nottinghamshire, part of the great Richmond Fee." 1

According to Thoroton, Truswell or Tireswell was held by seven generations of Robert's descendants. Lisiardus de Monasterio, and Gundra his sister, occur in the county 1194-99 (Rotuli Curiae Regis): and Robert, in 1279, held two fees " pro Warda Castri de Richmond." - Gale's Richmondshire.

Early History of the Master family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Master research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1600, 1610, 1624, 1627, 1637, 1639, 1640, 1653, 1660, 1661, 1662, 1663, 1675, 1679, 1680, 1684, 1685, 1687, 1690, 1691, 1710, 1715 and 1720 are included under the topic Early Master History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Master Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Master, Masters, Mosters, Measter, DeMaster and many more.

Early Notables of the Master family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Sir Streynsham Master
Sir William Master (1600-1662) was an English politician, High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1627
his son Thomas Master (1624-1680), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1660
John Master (1637-c.1680), an English physician
William Master (1627-1684), an English divine and writer
Sir Edward Master(s) (1610-1691), an English politician, High Sheriff of Kent in 1639, Member of Parliament for Canterbury (1640-1653) and (1661-1679) and Giles Masters, 2nd Attorney General of the Do...
Thomas Master (1663-1710), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Cirencester (1685-1690)

Master Ranking

In the United States, the name Master is the 13,713^rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2

Master migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Master or a variant listed above:

Master Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Edward Master, who arrived in Virginia in 1666 3

Master Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Christopher Master, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1762 3
Moritz Master, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1764 3
John Master, who landed in Virginia in 1790 3

Master Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Elizabeth Master, who landed in Long Island in 1812 3
Emma Master, aged 18, who landed in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1840 3
Joseph Master, who arrived in Tippecanoe County, Ind in 1850 3

Master migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Master Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Isaac Master, who arrived in Canada in 1831

Master migration to Australia +

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

Master Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Henry Master, aged 18, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Shackamaxon" 4

Master 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:

Master Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. H. Master, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Merchantman' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand and Auckland New Zealand on 6th September 1855 5
Mrs. Master, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Merchantman' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand and Auckland New Zealand on 6th September 1855 5
W. Master, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ann Wilson" in 1857

Contemporary Notables of the name Master (post 1700) +

Sheridan F. Master (b. 1869), American politician, Candidate for Circuit Judge in Michigan 9th Circuit, 1905; U.S. Surveyor of Customs, 1909 6
Master Francke (1380-1440), German painter

Historic Events for the Master family +

Flight 191

J J Master (d. 1979), American passenger from Chicago, Illinois, USA, who flew aboard American Airlines Flight 191 and died in the crash 7

The Master 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: Non minor est virtus quam quaerere parta tueri
Motto Translation: It is no less an achievement to keep possession than to acquire it.

Citations +

Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
"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)
South Australian Register Thursday 20 January 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SHACKAMAXON 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/shackamaxon1853.shtml
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 2015, October 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Flight 191's Victims - latimes. (Retrieved 2014, April 16) . Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/1985-08-04/news/mn-4349_1_fort-lauderdale-area