-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QqmLIqMKcnH6GUVlvZh/7DuYBhpkAdGtjCEez3MdWTfeu2gDksp+IoYQRViqS0o5
 fKFG+aMl0q3d/rhOJr96Xw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-10-059043.txt : 20101203
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-10-059043.hdr.sgml : 20101203
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101203095421
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-10-059043
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101201
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101203
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101203

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Latham John K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001480716

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15811
		FILM NUMBER:		101229999

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MARKEL CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		4521 HIGHWOODS PARKWAY
		CITY:			GLEN ALLEN
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23060

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARKEL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001096343
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				541959284
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4521 HIGHWOODS PARKWAY
		CITY:			GLEN ALLEN
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23060-3382
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8047470136

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4551 COX RD
		CITY:			GLEN ALLEN
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23060

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MARKEL HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19991005
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd292914.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001096343</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MARKEL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MKL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001480716</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Latham John K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MARKEL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4521 HIGHWOODS PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GLEN ALLEN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>23060</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President-Wholesale Operations</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>39</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>353.435</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9120</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1363.844</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401(K) Plan</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The total includes 2,085 restricted stock units awarded pursuant to the Markel Corporation Omnibus Incentive Plan.  Subject to certain conditions, twenty percent of these restricted stock units will vest on May 10, 2011, and the balance will vest on May 10, 2015. The total also includes 689 other restricted stock units granted pursuant to the Markel Corporation Omnibus Incentive Plan, of which 271 units will vest on December 31, 2011, 285 units will vest on December 31, 2012, and 133 units will vest on December 31, 2014.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Holdings under the Markel Corporation 401(K) Plan are reported in units.  The information reported herein is based on a plan statement dated as of September 30, 2010 and utilizes the closing stock price on that date of $344.59.  As of September 30, 2010, a unit under the Plan represented one share of Common Stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Linda S. Rotz, Attorney-in-fact for John K. Latham</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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