UK surname
An Arabic surname indicating bitterness or rebellion.
In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Marah surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 76, ranked #33,304, down from #31,019 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Darlington, Toxteth Park and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marah is 104 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 322.2%.
1881 census count
18
Ranked #31,019
Modern count
76
2016, ranked #33,304
Peak year
1861
104 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Marah surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Marah surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 53 | #23,739 |
| 1861 | historical | 104 | #20,477 |
| 1881 | historical | 18 | #31,019 |
| 1891 | historical | 102 | #23,719 |
| 1901 | historical | 27 | #31,057 |
| 1911 | historical | 17 | #31,675 |
| 1997 | modern | 64 | #31,233 |
| 1998 | modern | 71 | #30,869 |
| 1999 | modern | 62 | #31,893 |
| 2000 | modern | 61 | #32,039 |
| 2001 | modern | 59 | #32,080 |
| 2002 | modern | 68 | #31,626 |
| 2003 | modern | 72 | #31,281 |
| 2004 | modern | 63 | #32,380 |
| 2005 | modern | 67 | #32,196 |
| 2006 | modern | 69 | #32,343 |
| 2007 | modern | 69 | #32,662 |
| 2008 | modern | 66 | #33,217 |
| 2009 | modern | 69 | #33,257 |
| 2010 | modern | 76 | #33,009 |
| 2011 | modern | 70 | #33,465 |
| 2012 | modern | 70 | #33,638 |
| 2013 | modern | 74 | #33,483 |
| 2014 | modern | 78 | #33,270 |
| 2015 | modern | 75 | #33,425 |
| 2016 | modern | 76 | #33,304 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Darlington, Toxteth Park, St Pancras, Wigan and Prescot. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Darlington | Durham |
| 2 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| 5 | Prescot | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Marah surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Marah, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Marah surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Marah household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Marah is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Marah is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Marah, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MARAH originated in the Middle East, specifically in the region of modern-day Israel and Jordan. It is believed to have derived from the Hebrew word "marah," which means "bitter" or "bitterness." This name may have been given to individuals who lived in areas known for their harsh or unforgiving environments, or to those who had endured significant hardships or struggles in their lives.
One of the earliest references to the name MARAH can be found in the Book of Exodus in the Bible. In chapter 15, verse 23, the Israelites, after leaving Egypt, came upon a place called Marah, where the waters were bitter and undrinkable. This biblical reference suggests that the name MARAH has its roots in the ancient Hebrew language and culture.
The first recorded instances of the surname MARAH can be traced back to the 12th century in the region of the Levant. During this period, the name appeared in various Arabic and Hebrew documents, often in reference to individuals or families living in the areas around the Dead Sea and the Jordan River.
In the 13th century, a prominent figure named Yitzhak ben MARAH was known for his expertise in Jewish law and commentary on the Talmud. He lived in the city of Acre, which was then a part of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem.
During the Ottoman Empire's rule over the region in the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname MARAH was found in records of tax collections and land ownership in various villages and towns across what is now Israel and Jordan.
One notable bearer of the MARAH surname was Ibrahim MARAH, a 17th-century scholar and writer from Aleppo, Syria. His works on Islamic jurisprudence and poetry were widely influential in the region during his time.
In the 19th century, a family by the name of MARAH was prominent in the city of Nablus, in what was then a part of the Ottoman Empire's Syrian province. This family played an essential role in the city's cultural and intellectual life, with several members serving as scholars, poets, and community leaders.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Marah surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Durham leads with 7 Marahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.49x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 7 | 10.49x |
| Channel Islands | 5 | 75.19x |
| Glamorgan | 5 | 12.80x |
| Kent | 4 | 5.23x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.38x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.45x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Darlington in Durham leads with 7 Marahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 271.32x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Darlington | 7 | 271.32x |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 5 | 133.33x |
| St Sampson | 5 | 1666.67x |
| Deptford St Paul | 4 | 67.80x |
| Blackburn | 1 | 14.12x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 8.02x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Marah surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Marah surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Marah households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 1 |
| Bricklayers Labourer | 1 |
| Cotton Winder | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Ladys Maid | 1 |
| Puddler | 1 |
| Quarry Miner | 1 |
| Quarry Miner Wife | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Stone Breaker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Marah surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 76 in 2016. That gives Marah a modern rank of #33,304.
An Arabic surname indicating bitterness or rebellion.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Marah bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.