FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * MARKEL ANTHONY F   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol MARKEL CORP [MKL] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Vice Chairman (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O MARKEL CORPORATION, 4521 HIGHWOODS PKWY 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 01/28/2009 (Street) GLEN ALLEN, VA 23060 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 01/28/2009   G V 8 D $ 0 35,665 (1) I By Trust (1) Common Stock               172,715 (2) D   Common Stock               10,772 I As Trustee (3) Common Stock               3,366 I As Trustee (4) Common Stock               2,850 I As Trustee (4) Common Stock               1,961 I As Trustee (4) Common Stock               2,443 I By Trust (5)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
MARKEL ANTHONY F C/O MARKEL CORPORATION 4521 HIGHWOODS PKWY GLEN ALLEN, VA 23060	X		Vice Chairman

Signatures

Linda S. Rotz, Attorney-in-fact for Anthony F. Markel		01/29/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Mr. Markel is a Trustee and partial beneficiary of a series of Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts. End of period holdings also reflect change in form of beneficial ownership by reason of distribution of 21,077 shares from GRATs to Mr. Markel. The total reported herein reflects the aggregate of all such trusts.
(2)	Mr. Markel is a Trustee and partial beneficiary of a series of Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts. End of period holdings reflect change in form of beneficial ownership by reason of distribution of 21,077 shares from GRATs to Mr. Markel.
(3)	Mr. Markel is the Trustee of an inter vivos trust created by his spouse, now deceased, and in which Mr. Markel and his children retain a partial interest. Mr. Markel disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held in the trust except to the extent of his partial interest.
(4)	Mr. Markel is Trustee of irrevocable trusts for the benefit of his children. Beneficial ownership of securities is expressly disclaimed.
(5)	Mr. Markel is the Trustee of a trust for the benefit of his children and their descendants and in which Mr. Markel retains a partial interest. Mr. Markel disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held in the trust except to the extent of his partial interest.

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