Marple Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Marple Origin:

England

Origins of Marple:

Listed with the spellings of Maple, Mapples, Marple, Marples, and Maypole, this is an English surname. According to the popular Victorian etymologist Canon Charles Bardsley, the surname is from Yorkshire, and not in any way related to the small town of Marples in Cheshire. He explains that the surname shows one who lived ‘at the maples’ and as such relates to a forest or thicket of maple trees. The second research does show that while the majority of the surname ancestors perhaps derive from Yorkshire as Thomas de Mapple listed in the city of York, and Johannes and Willelmus de name in the town of Rotherham, all in the infamous census Tax rolls for the year 1379. However, we differ from Canon Bardsley in having an approach to better documentations, and in our opinion, the spelling as Marple or Marples may for some name ancestors at least, have acquired from the town name. It was the rule from the oldest times of the formation of genetics surnames in the 14th century for people who had departed from their original mother towns, to be named after that hamlet or town. Marple (town) first listed in 1248 in the spelling of Merpel. It shows a meaning of the place on the slope overlooking the (River) Mersey. Examples of next recordings contain as Robtus Maple at St Andrews parish, Enfield, Middlesex, in August 1564, and Johannis Marples at St Martins in the Field, Westminster, in March 1673.

Variations:

More common variations are: Marpole, Marpley, Marpale, Marpl, Marapale, Marapile, Marepale, Marapule, Marepele, Mareplle.

England:

The surname Marple first appeared in Cheshire where they held a family seat as Kings of the Castle of Marple, or in more old times pronounced as Merpul. The first list of ownership of the lands was when Randle, Earl of Chester gave the manorial rights to Robert of Stockport. He sold the land to Sir George Vernon, known as ‘The King of the Peak’ senior of one those complicated east Cheshire families who had rule over the forests of Cheshire and Derbyshire. Marple Hall survives, and in the 19th century was the seat of the remarkable Isherwood family, having a seat of the Bradshaws. Interestingly, one of the theories of the source of Agatha Christie’s fictional character Miss Marple was that it derived the name from a family called Marple, who resided at Marple Hall near her sister Madge’s home at Abney Hall. The origin of surnames during this period became a necessity with the introduction of personal taxation. It came to be known as Poll Tax in England.

Ireland:

Many of the people with surname Marple had moved to Ireland during the 17th century.

United States of America:

Some of the population with the surname Marple who arrived in the United States in the 19th century included Daniel and Cath Marple and three children settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1820.

Canada:

Some of the people with the surname Marple who landed in Canada in the 18th century included Mr. David Marple U.E. born in Virginia, America who shifted in St. Stephen, Charlotte Division, New Brunswick near the year 1784, he was part of the 74th Control. Mr. Northrop Marple U.E.and Mr. Samuel R. Marple U.E., both born in Virginia, America and settled in St. Stephen, Charlotte Division, New Brunswick near the year 1784, they were part of the 74th Control.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Marple: United States 3,106; Canada 226; England 145; France 73; Australia 63; New Zealand 33; Scotland 20; Italy 3; Denmark 2; Netherlands 1.

Notable People:

Carole Marple (born 1941), is an Australian political leader.

Stan Marple was a Canadian ice hockey player and referee.

Miss Marple was a fictional character created by Agatha Christie.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Bonsal, co. Derby). Sa. semée of crosses crosslet fitchée ar. a griffin segreant or.
2) (Edenstourc, co. Derby; confirmed 20 Sept. 1574). Sa. semée of crosses crosslet fitchée a griffin segreant wings endorsed or.