Mercy Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Mercy Origin:

England, France

Origins of Mercy:

According to the early recordings of the spelling of the name, this interesting and unique name was listed in many forms such as Marsay, Marsie, Marsy, Marsee, Mercie, Mercey, Mercy, Mersey, and Morsey, this very unusual surname is English, but eventually of French origins. It is geographical from the place called Marcy, in the department of La Manche, in the county of Normandy. First noted in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, it was brought into England by one of the supporters of Duke William of Normandy during the Norman Invasion of 1066. Marcy is one of some of the similar compositions appearing in Northern France, like Macey, Massy, and Mace. All share a similar meaning and origin, which is ‘Maccius’s hamlet,’ from the Gallo-Roman particular name Maccius, with sometimes the Latin addition of ‘-acum,’ meaning the place of the Maccius tribe. The surname is one of the very noted anywhere, and amongst these early examples are the records of William de Marsei in the Pipe Rolls of the division of Nottinghamshire in the year 1180, Allan Macy in the Hundred Rolls of Suffolk in 1275 and William Massy of Nottingham in 1330. Robert Marsye noted at the parish of St Mildred Poultrey in the City of London in 1559, John Mersey at the parish of St Katherines by the Tower (of London) in 1602, and John Mercy at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, in 1619.

Variations:

More common variations are: Mercey, Merrcy, Mercya, Merciy, Merecy, Mereciy, Mercyaa, Mercyia, Mersy, Marcy.

England:

The surname Mercy first appeared in Gloucestershire where they held a family seat as Kings of the Palace of Hampton Meysey and Marston Meysey. Family tradition states that the Meysey family was from Brittany and that they brought William the Champion, in his victory of England at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 AD. However, there is a Meisi in Calvados in Normandy, and this may have been a section of the similar family name. Godfrey de Meysey held his estates from the priest Theulfus. Soon after, about 1110, they raised to Worcestershire and the name usually shows in the Red Book of the Bishopric of Worcester.

The very first recording spelling of the family was shown to be that of Ralph de Marcei, dated about 1086, in the “Domesday Book for the county of Essex.” It was during the time of King William I, of England, dated 1066-1087. 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. Surnames all over the country began to develop, with unique and shocking spelling variations of the original one.

Ireland:

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

United States of America:

Individuals with the surname Mercy landed in the United States in two different centuries respectively in the 18th, and 19th. Some of the people with the name Mercy who arrived in the United States in the 18th century included Richard Mercy, who came to Virginia in 1703.

The following century saw more Mercy surnames come. Some of the people with the name Mercy who arrived in the United States in the 19th century included Gustav Mercy at the age of 38, arrived in New York, NY in 1850. Norma Mercy at the age of 22, landed in New York, NY in 1893.

New-Zealand:

Some of the population with the surname Mercy who arrived in New Zealand in the 19th century included William Mercy arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Jura” in 1861.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Mercy: Nigeria 19,410; Uganda 7,655; Kenya 6,042; Cameroon 2,181; Niger 1,562; India 1,477; Haiti 1,297; United States 1,006; Philippines 967; Pakistan 880.

Notable People:

Mercy Lewis was born in Falmouth, Maine. In September 1689, an Indian attack killed her grandparents, aunts, uncles and most of her cousins.

Mercy Otis Warren (September 1728 – October 1814) was a political author and missionary of the American Revolution.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Northall, co. Essex, and co. Hereford). Gu. on a fesse engr. ar. betw. three water bougets or, a cross formée sa. bezantee betw. two cloves of the last.
2) Ar. on a bend gu. three lozenges of the field.