Mallory

The surname Mallory originated in Normandy, a region in northern France, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French words "mal" meaning "ill" and "orie" meaning "fortune," together meaning "unlucky" or "unfortunate." The name may have been given as a nickname to someone who was considered unlucky or who had experienced misfortune.

The Mallory surname first appeared in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It was likely brought to England by Norman settlers and knights who accompanied William the Conqueror. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror.

In the 12th century, the name appears in the records of the Knights Templar, a prominent Catholic military order during the Crusades. Sir Robert Mallory was a notable Knight Templar who participated in the Third Crusade in the late 12th century.

During the 13th century, the Mallory surname was associated with the village of Mallory in Yorkshire, England. It is believed that the name may have derived from this place name, which was originally spelled "Malorie" or "Malore."

One of the earliest notable figures with the Mallory surname was Sir John Mallory, who lived in the late 14th century and served as a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire in 1379. Another prominent individual was Sir Thomas Mallory, a 15th-century English writer best known for compiling the legendary tales of King Arthur into the famous work "Le Morte d'Arthur," published in 1485.

In the 16th century, the Mallory family established themselves as landowners and gentry in various parts of England, particularly in Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, and Yorkshire. Sir Christopher Mallory, born in 1492, was a Member of Parliament for Ripon and held estates in Yorkshire.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, the Mallory family aligned themselves with the Royalist cause, supporting King Charles I. Sir John Mallory, born in 1610, was a Royalist commander who fought against the Parliamentarians and was eventually captured and imprisoned.

Other notable figures with the Mallory surname include George Mallory, a famous English mountaineer who participated in the first three British expeditions to Mount Everest in the early 20th century and may have been the first person to reach the summit in 1924, before tragically dying on the descent.