<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001096343-19-000159.txt : 20190702
<SEC-HEADER>0001096343-19-000159.hdr.sgml : 20190702
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20190702163310
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001096343-19-000159
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20190701
FILED AS OF DATE:		20190702
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20190702

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARKEL STEVEN A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001184575

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15811
		FILM NUMBER:		19937998

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:			23060-6148
		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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_156209957562571.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-07-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184575</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARKEL STEVEN A</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>Vice Chairman</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>680</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1100.03</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>99855</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>187</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1101.46</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>99668</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>33</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1102.36</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>99635</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2038.294</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401(K) Plan</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sales reported in this Form 4 were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $1,100.00 to $1,100.30, inclusive.  The reporting person undertakes to provide to any security holder of Markel Corporation or to the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $1,101.04 to $1,102.01, inclusive.  The reporting person undertakes to provide to any security holder of Markel Corporation or to the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $1,102.30 to $1,102.50, inclusive.  The reporting person undertakes to provide to any security holder of Markel Corporation or to the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">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 June 30, 2019 and utilizes the most recent closing stock price on that date of $1,089.60 per share. As of June 30, 2019, a unit under the Plan represented one share of Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Beneficial ownership of securities is expressly disclaimed.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Donna S. Donavant, Attorney-in-fact for Steven A. Markel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-07-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>a2019may13-confirmingstate.htm
<DESCRIPTION>2019 - MARKEL, STEVEN POA 05132019
<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, Jeremy A. Noble, Karl M. Strait, Anna M. King, Brian D. Sorkin or Donna S.
Donavant (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) and Form 144s
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 or Form 144s 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 or Rule 144.

Date:  May 13, 2019


                            /s/ Steven A. Markel
                            Signature

                            Steven A. Markel
                            Printed Name


</pre>
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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
