Surname Histories (M to R)

Over 1,000,000 Worldwide Family Surnames
Coat of Arms, Family Crests & Surname Histories
Click banner to search for your names!

Surname Family Histories (M to R) Return to: Surname Family Histories Main Page
CLICK ON ANY SURNAME McConnell Merryman Miller Morgan Morton Mumford Murray Noll Otto Parsons Phillips Plaine Price Pursell Reed Reilly Richards Ritter

MCCONNELL
Origin: Scottish
Coat of Arms: Gold with a red eagle with a black sailing ship on its breast.
Crest: An arm and hand holding a cross.
Motto: Per mare per terras (By sea and by land)
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: MacConnell, MacConnal, MacConnel, and others.
First found in in Ayrshire where they were seated from early times and their first records appeared on the census rolls taken by the ancient Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Alexander, Arthur, Andrew, Francis, George, Henry, John, James, Neil, Patrick, Robert, Thomas and William MacConnell all arrived in Philadelphia Pa. between 1800 and 1870; Arthur, Daniel, Hugh, James, Robert and Thomas MacConnel all arrived in Philadelphia between 1800 and 1860; Hugh MacConnal settled in Pennsylvania in 1773; Mathew MacCo and others.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

MCCONNELL
Origin: Irish
Surname History:
The name McConnell in Ireland is often of Scottish origin but can also be derived from the native Gaelic MacDhomhnaill Sept, which literally translates as 'Son of Daniel'. The name is mostly found in the Province of Ulster and especially in Counties Antrim, Down and Tyrone.
Surname History © by Irish Surnames

Return to Index

MERRYMAN
Origin: English
Coat of Arms: Blue and silver bellshaped design and overall a red horizontal stripe.
Crest: A blue tent.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Marmion, Marmyon, Merryman, Merriman, and others.
First found in in Warwickshire where they were seated from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 AD.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Henry and Margaret Marman settled in Virginia in 1732; Mary Marmion settled in Virginia in 1654; Mathew and Jane Marmion arrived in Philadelphia in 1871; Audrey Merryman and Anne settled in and others.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

Return to Index

MILLER
Origin: Scottish
Coat of Arms: Silver with a red cross.
Crest: A right hand with first and second fingers pointing upward.
Motto: Manent optima coelo (The best things await us in heaven)
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Miller, Millar, Myllar, Mylar, Millare, Myllair, Mellir and many more.
First found in in Dumfriesshire where they were seated from very ancient times.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Daniel Millar who settled in Maryland in 1714; the family, Millars and Millers, also settled in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, New Hampshire, in the 18th and 19th centuries. In Newfoundland, Richard settled in Fermeuse in 1675; John in St. John's in 1705; Samuel in Trinity Bay in 1766; Samuel Jr. and Thomas settled in Fogo, Twillingate in 1771; William and Patrick in Placentia in 1794; and many many more up to 1871. There is a Miller Head, Miller and others.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

MILLER
Origin: German
Coat of Arms: for Muller: A gold shield bearing a Catherine wheel.
Motto: Virtute ingenioque valemus
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Mueller, Muller, Mueler, Muler, Miller, Moeller (northern Germany) and many more.
First found in Swabia, Baden, Austria, and Bavaria, where the family had settled.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Jacob Mueller, who emigrated to America with his wife and five children in 1709. A flood of over one hundred bearers of this name arrived in Philadelphia over the next three decades. Over one hundred Muellers also came to Texas in the 1840s and 50s. Bearers of the variation "Muller" arrived in even more numbers during the same years. Over five hundred came to Philadelphia between 1730 and 1780.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

MILLER
Origin: Irish
Surname History:
Miller and Millar are names of immigrant origin having been brought to the country by settlers, especially from England, in the seventeenth century. The Province of Ulster was the main settlement point and it is here that the majority of descendants can still today be found.
Surname History ©Irish Surnames

MILLER
Origin: Jewish
Coat of Arms: A blue shield featuring a waterwheel.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

Return to Index

MORGAN
Origin: Welsh
Coat of Arms: Green with a gold lion.
Crest: A lion.
Motto: Heb dduw
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Morgan, Morgen, Morgain, Morgaine, and others.
First found in in Caernarvonshire where they were seated from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 AD.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Robert Morgaine settled in Virginia in 1623; Edmund Morgan settled in Virginia in 1623; Evan Morgan settled in Barbados in 1680; George Morgan settled in Virginia in 1663; and others.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

MORGAN
Origin: Irish
Surname History:
The name Morgan in Ireland is either of Welsh origin or as an anglicized form of the native Gaelic Sept O'Muireagain which was based in the Province of Leinster and especially in Counties Louth and Longford. It is here that the majority of descendants can still be found although the name is widespread throughout the country.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation
Surname History © by Irish Surnames

Return to Index

MORTON
Origin: Scottish
Coat of Arms: Silver a gold star on a red chevron between three buckles.
Crest: A Moorcock.
Motto: Perseverando (By perserving )
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Morton, Moreton, Moorton, Myrton, and others.
First found in in Cheshire where they were seated from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 AD.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Edward Moreton settled in the Barbados in 1685; John Moreton settled in New England in 1663; Mathew Moreton settled in Virginia in 1698; George Morton settled in Plymouth Mass in 162 and others.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

MORTON
Origin: Swedish
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

Return to Index

MUMFORD
Origin: English
Coat of Arms: Gold with a blue lion.
Crest: A cat rampant.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Mumford, Munford, Mundford, and others.
First found in in Norfolk where they were seated from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Richard Mumford settled in Virginia in 1624; William Mumford settled in Lynn Mass. in 1630; Henry Mumford settled in New England in 1671; Margaret Mumford settled in Maryland in 17 and others.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

Return to Index

MURRAY
Origin: Scottish
Coat of Arms: Blue with three silver stars.
Crest: A mermaid holding a mirror.
Motto: Tout Prêt (Quite ready)
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Murray, Murrey, Moray, Morey, Morrey, Morry, Murry and many more.
First found in in Moray where they were seated from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Andrew, Anne, Archibald, Bernard, Catherine, Charles, Daniel, Denis, Edward, George, Henry, Hugh, James, John, Martin, Michael, Patrick, Peter, Robert, Thomas and William Murray who all arrived in Philadelphia between 1800 and 1870. In Newfoundland, James Murray was in possession of property and was a fisherman of St. John's in 1784; Patrick Murray was boat keeper of Tilton Harbour (now Tilting) in 1786; John Murray settled in Adam's Cove in 1786; James Murray, an Irish convict, from Co. Monaghan landed at Petty Harbour in 1789, and many more. and others.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

MURRAY
Origin: Irish
Surname Information:
Murray is among the twenty most frequently found names in Ireland. Some descendants are of Scottish origin, particularly those of Ulster stock. Irish descendants of the Roscommon O'Muireadhaigh Sept anglicized their name toMurray in the seventeenth century. Murry, Morrow and McIlmurray are other anglicized variants.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation
Surname Information © by Irish Surnames

Return to Index

NOLL
Origin: English
Coat of Arms: Red with a silver chevron between three silver roses.
Crest: A silver elephant.
Motto: In utrumque paratus
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Knollys, Knoll, Knolle, Knolles, Knowles, Knowlys and many more.
First found in in Yorkshire where they were seated from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 AD.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Hansard Knollys settled in New Hampshire in 1630; Henry Knowles settled in Salem, Mass. in 1635; John Knowles settled in the Barbados in 1635 along with Thomas; Mary Knowles settled in Maryland and others.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

NOLL
Origin: German
Coat of Arms: Shield quartered per saltire red and blue, two silver wings.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Knoll, Knolle, Knole, Nole, Noll, Knol, and others.
First found in Prussia, where they emerged as a notable family name at their seat at Knoll early in the middle ages.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: George Ludwig Knoll settled in Pennsylvania in 1751 with his wife Ursula and two children; Johann Ephriam Knoll and his family settled in New York in 1850; Jacob Knoll settled in and others.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

Return to Index

OTTO
Origin: German
Coat of Arms: A blue shield with a man carrying an anchor on his shoulder, and a silver star.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Otto, Ottos, Ottoe, Oto, Otoe, Autto, Auto, Auttoe and many more.
First found in Prussia, where they became more entrenched as one of the notable family names of the region.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Heinrich Otto, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1739. Henri Otto came to South Carolina in 1782; Johannes Otto arrived in Pennsylvania in 1804; Adolf Otto settled in Texas in 1846; Franz T and others.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

OTTO
Origin: Italian
Coat of Arms: Gold shield with a blue lion rampant.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Oddi, Oddo, Odda, Odi, Oddone, Oddoni, Odone, Otto and many more.
First found in Perugia where they were anciently seated. They branched into Sicily, Bologna, and Padova where they held lands and estates.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Many settlers were recorded from the end of the 19th century in the great migration from Italy to the New World. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard principally in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

OTTO
Origin: Italian
Coat of Arms: A blue and silver shield three blue and silver rings.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

Return to Index

PARSONS
Origin: English
Coat of Arms: Red with three gold leopards faces.
Crest: Top of a halpert.
Motto: Pro Deo et Rege
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Parsons, Parson, and others.
First found in in Buckingham where they were seated from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Christopher Parsons settled in Virginia in 1663; along with Edward 1639; Elizabeth 1677; George 1747; Giles 1654; Grace 1651; Henry 1643; James 1635; John 1619; Mary 1654; Ri and others.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

Return to Index

PHILLIPS
Origin: Welsh
Coat of Arms: A black lion rampant gorged with a crown and chained on a silver shield crowned gold
Crest: A lion.
Motto: Ducit amor patriae (Patriotism leads me)
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Phillips, Philips, Phillip, Philip, Pilip, Pillips and many more.
First found in in Kent where they were seated from very ancient times.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Elinor Phillips who settled in Virginia in 1623, soon after the "Mayflower", and Henry Phillips who settled in Virginia in the same year; John, Edward, William, Andrew, Bodman, Charles, David, Griffith, James and Jo Phillips all settled with their families in Virginia bet and others.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

Return to Index

PLAINE
Origin: English
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Plater, Plator, Playter, Playtor, Platter, Plattor and many more.
First found in Suffolk where they were anciently seated at Sotterley.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

Return to Index

PRICE
Origin: Welsh
Coat of Arms: Red with a silver lion rampant.
Crest: A lion holding a rose.
Motto: Auxilium meum a domino (My help is from the Lord)
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Price, Pryce, and others.
First found in in Merionethshire where they were seated from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 AD.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Anne Price settled in Virginia in 1650; along with Daniel in 1663; Edward in 1623; Elizabeth in 1651; Evan in 1663; George in 1647; Hannah in 1654; Henry in 1622; and others.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

PRICE
Origin: Irish
Surname History:
The name Price has been in Ireland since the fourteenth century when it was brought to the country by settlers named Ap Rhys from Wales. The native Gaelic O'Muirgheasain Sept of Counties Donegal and Derry sometimes used Price as the anglicized version of their name instead of the more usual Bryson.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation
Surname History © by Irish Surnames

Return to Index

PURSELL
Origin: Irish
Coat of Arms: Gold with a cross between four black boars heads.
Crest: An arm holding a sword on which there is a black boar's head.
Motto: Aut vincam aut periam
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Purcell, Purcel, Pursell, Purcill, Purcells, Percell and many more.
First found in in Surrey where they were seated from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 AD.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Joseph Purcel settled at Barnstable in Mass. in 1822; Nancy Purcell and her husband and seven children settled in Quebec in 1825; Andrew, Edward, James, John, Martin, Mathew, Michael, Patrick, Peter Purcell all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 187 and others.
Additional Information:
The name Purcell in Ireland is of Anglo-Norman origin, being taken from the French word 'pourcel' and was brought to the country during the twelfth century. The immigrants established the Puirseil Sept along native Gaelic lines and were located in County Tipperary and surrounding Counties.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation
Additional Info © by Irish Surnames

Return to Index

REED
Origin: English
Coat of Arms: Red with a gold cross between four gold wheatsheaves.
Crest: A falcon.
Motto: Pax copia (Peace, Plenty)
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Read, Reid, Reed, Reede, Redd, Reade, and others.
First found in in Northumberland where they were seated from early times and their first records appeared on the census rolls taken by the ancient Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Anthony Read who settled in Virginia in 1623; along with Anne in 1738; Ely in 1725; George in 1635; and James in 1607, which pre-dates the Mayflower by thirteen years and others.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

REED
Origin: Irish
Surname History:
The names Reed and Reid in Ireland are often of immigrant origin having been brought to the country by settlers from England and Scotland in the seventeenth century. The native Gaelic O'Riada Sept of County Tipperary and the O'Maoildeirg Sept of County Mayo have also adopted Reid and Reed as the anglicized forms of their name. Mulderrig, Reade and Red are other variants.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation
Surname History © by Irish Surnames

REED
Origin: Scottish
Motto: Virtutis gloria merces (Glory is the reward of valour)
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

Return to Index

REILLY
Origin: Irish
Coat of Arms: Green with two gold lions supporting a bleeding hand.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: O'Reilly, O'Reilley, O'Reily, O'Rielly, O'Riely, O'Riley and many more.
First found in county Cavan. They were known as the Princes of East Breffny, descended from Raghallaigh, Prince of Breffny in 981.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: the families who settled in Newfoundland - in St. John's, Tilton Harbour, Placientia, Tickle Bay, Tilt Cove, and many more, between 1805 and 1871; James O'Reiley settled in New York in 1823; Alexander, Bernard, Christopher, James, Patrick, Terence, Thomas O'Reilly arrived in Philadelphia, and others.
Additional Information:
The names Reilly and O'Reilly in Ireland are derived from the native Gaelic O'Raghaillaigh Sept that was based in Counties Cavan and Westmeath. These names are among the ten most frequently found in Ireland and although they are very widespread they can be mostly found in the region of the ancestral homeland.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation
Additional Info © by Irish Surnames

Return to Index

RICHARDS
Origin: English
Coat of Arms: for Richards: Blue with a silver chevron, in base a lion rampant.
Crest: A blue lion.
Motto: Honore et amore
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Richards, Richard, Ricard, Rycard, and others.
First found in in Yorkshire where they were seated at Hatfield being ancient Lords of the manor of Ricard or Rycard.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: William Richards of Port de Grave, Newfoundland, settled there in 1782; Thomas Richards from Lympstone in Devonshire, settled in Newfoundland in 1734; James and Ann Richards settled in Nantasket in 1630; Richard Richards settled in Virginia in 1620; Solomon Richards arrived in Pennsylvania in 1682 and others.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

Return to Index

RITTER
Origin: English
Coat of Arms: Red with a lion at the top and three silver wheatsheaves in base.
Motto: Melitae amor (Love of Malta)
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Rutter, Ruttery, Rutty, and others.
First found in in Cheshire where they were seated from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: John Rutter settled in New England in 1638; Thomas Rutter arrived in the Barbados in 1635; Daniel Rutter settled in the Barbados in 1685; Thomas Rutter arrived in Maryland in 171 and others.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

RITTER
Origin: German
Coat of Arms: A blue and gold shield displaying a tree trunk.
Crest: A tree trunk.
Motto: Candore et labore
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Ritter, Ritther, Rytter, Ryther, Ridder (northern Germany) and many more.
First found in Austria, where they continued to be important contributors to the life of Europe in the Middle Ages.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Hans M. Rider, who sailed to Philadelphia in 1728. Among the several hundred immigrants who followed this first settler were: Hans Ritter, who sailed to Philadelphia in 1731, Paulus Ryter to Philadelphia in 1732, Johann Gottfried to Philadelphia in 1754, Anthony Ritter to New Jersey in 1773, Johan Conrad Ritter to Philadelphia in 1802, Herman Ridder to Philadelphia in 1843, and Heinrick Ritter to Texas in 1853.
Information © by Swyrich Corporation

Return to Index