<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001096343-16-000199.txt : 20160314
<SEC-HEADER>0001096343-16-000199.hdr.sgml : 20160314
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20160314163708
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001096343-16-000199
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20150825
FILED AS OF DATE:		20160314
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20160314

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:		4521 HIGHWOODS PKWY
		CITY:			GLEN ALLEN
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23060

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MARKEL HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19991005

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KIRSHNER ALAN I
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001184574

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15811
		FILM NUMBER:		161504287

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4521 HIGHWOODS PKWY
		CITY:			GLEN ALLEN
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23060
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_145798781688688.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-08-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184574</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KIRSHNER ALAN I</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Chairman</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-08-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0.6377</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>862.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14.7355</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-03-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0.0637</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>884.98</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14.7992</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-03-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0.0621</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>884.98</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>28774.6834</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>989.185</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401(K) Plan</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>269.194</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse - 401(K) Plan</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The balance, which was previously unreported due to inadvertent oversight, includes an internal share transfer on December 31, 2003 of 10.454 shares (purchase price unknown), and purchases of 0.442 at $339.91, 1.595 at $345.00 and 1.6068 at $342.31 on December 6, 2004, May 18, 2005, and July 28, 2010, respectively.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Beneficial ownership of securities is expressly disclaimed.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares acquired pursuant to, or bonus shares granted under, Markel Corporation Employee Stock Purchase and Bonus Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">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 December 31, 2015 and utilizes the closing stock price on that date of $883.35 per share.  As of December 31, 2015, a unit under the Plan represented one share of Common Stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Donna L. Strauss, Attorney-in-fact for Alan I. Kirshner</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-03-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>a2016february23-confirming.htm
<DESCRIPTION>KIRSHNER POA 02232016
<TEXT>
<!-- Document created using Workiva -->
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<pre>
CONFIRMING STATEMENT


    This Statement confirms that the undersigned has authorized and designated Richard R. Grinnan, Anne G. Waleski, Karl M. Strait, Anna M. King, Alex K. Tinucci or Donna L. Strauss (each an "Authorized Signer") to execute and file (in any permitted format) on the undersigned's behalf all Forms 3, 4 and 5 (including any amendments thereto) that the undersigned may be required to file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission as a result of the undersigned's ownership of, or transactions in, securities of Markel Corporation.  Any such previous authorization is hereby revoked.  Each Authorized Signer is authorized to obtain CIK and EDGAR access codes and take all such other actions as may be necessary or desirable to permit electronic filings of such forms.  The authority of each Authorized Signer under this Statement shall continue until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 or 5 with regard to the undersigned's ownership of, or transactions in, securities of Markel Corporation, unless earlier revoked in writing.  The undersigned acknowledges that none of the Authorized Signers or Markel Corporation is assuming any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Date:  February 23, 2016


    /s/ Alan I. Kirshner
    Signature

    Alan I. Kirshner
    Printed Name
</pre>
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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
