NameCensus.

UK surname

March

An English topographic surname for someone who lived near a boundary or borderland.

In the 1881 census there were 3,217 people recorded with the March surname, ranking it #1,407 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,750, ranked #1,811, down from #1,407 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newark and Sherwood, Purbeck and Darnley East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for March is 3,978 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.6%.

1881 census count

3,217

Ranked #1,407

Modern count

3,750

2016, ranked #1,811

Peak year

1911

3,978 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • March had 3,217 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,407 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,750 in 2016, ranked #1,811.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,978 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

March surname distribution map

The map shows where the March surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

March surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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March over time

The 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 2,298 #1,288
1861 historical 2,562 #1,143
1881 historical 3,217 #1,407
1891 historical 3,583 #1,338
1901 historical 3,718 #1,512
1911 historical 3,978 #1,283
1997 modern 3,778 #1,720
1998 modern 3,875 #1,739
1999 modern 3,890 #1,752
2000 modern 3,826 #1,763
2001 modern 3,727 #1,769
2002 modern 3,779 #1,793
2003 modern 3,692 #1,794
2004 modern 3,698 #1,786
2005 modern 3,575 #1,829
2006 modern 3,554 #1,840
2007 modern 3,583 #1,838
2008 modern 3,630 #1,822
2009 modern 3,707 #1,830
2010 modern 3,807 #1,831
2011 modern 3,794 #1,807
2012 modern 3,750 #1,794
2013 modern 3,792 #1,808
2014 modern 3,808 #1,806
2015 modern 3,765 #1,810
2016 modern 3,750 #1,811

Geography

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Where Marchs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Ryton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newark and Sherwood, Purbeck, Darnley East, Leicester and Gateshead. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Ryton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newark and Sherwood 001 Newark and Sherwood
2 Purbeck 006 Purbeck
3 Darnley East Glasgow City
4 Leicester 035 Leicester
5 Gateshead 004 Gateshead

Forenames

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First names often paired with March

These lists show first names that appear often with the March surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for March

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For March, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the March surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every March household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, March is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

March is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

March falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for March is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with March, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of March

The surname March originates from England and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "mearc," meaning a boundary or frontier. This name was likely given to someone who lived near a territorial boundary or worked as a keeper of the marches.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled "Merche." This entry suggests that the name was well-established in parts of England by the time of the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "de la Merche" and "atte Merche," indicating a connection to a specific place or location. Some of these place names may have been derived from the Old English word "mearc," while others could have been influenced by the Norman French term "marche," meaning a border region.

Notable individuals with the surname March include:

1. Roger de la Marche (c. 1238-1322), an English nobleman and military commander who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence.

2. Edmund March (c. 1459-1510), an English scholar and author who wrote on astronomy and astrology.

3. John March (c. 1612-1657), an English military officer who served in the English Civil War and was known for his bravery in battle.

4. Francis Andrew March (1825-1911), an American philologist and linguist who made significant contributions to the study of comparative grammar.

5. Noel Gilroy Annan, Baron March (1916-2000), a British military officer, academic, and public servant who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of London and the Provost of University College London.

The surname March has a rich history and has been associated with various regions and occupations throughout the centuries. Its origins can be traced back to the Old English language and the concept of territorial boundaries, which has shaped its evolution and usage over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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March families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the March surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 459 Marchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.46x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 459 1.46x
Somerset 317 6.26x
Durham 268 2.86x
Yorkshire 265 0.85x
Surrey 216 1.41x
Devon 181 2.76x
Essex 180 2.90x
Lancashire 158 0.42x
Northamptonshire 145 4.90x
Kent 135 1.26x
Leicestershire 120 3.44x
Norfolk 85 1.76x
Hampshire 84 1.30x
Northumberland 68 1.45x
Wiltshire 50 1.80x
Staffordshire 48 0.45x
Gloucestershire 47 0.76x
Sussex 43 0.81x
Warwickshire 43 0.54x
Suffolk 42 1.10x
Dorset 39 1.89x
Lincolnshire 34 0.68x
Worcestershire 28 0.68x
Nottinghamshire 19 0.45x
Glamorgan 15 0.27x
Hertfordshire 15 0.69x
Shropshire 13 0.48x
Lanarkshire 12 0.12x
Roxburghshire 10 1.75x
Cornwall 9 0.25x
Derbyshire 8 0.16x
Midlothian 8 0.19x
Channel Islands 7 0.75x
Brecknockshire 6 0.95x
Oxfordshire 6 0.31x
Cheshire 5 0.07x
Bedfordshire 4 0.25x
Denbighshire 4 0.34x
Banffshire 3 0.46x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.16x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.15x
Cumberland 3 0.11x
Monmouthshire 3 0.13x
Royal Navy 3 0.80x
Berkshire 2 0.08x
Dumfriesshire 2 0.29x
West Lothian 2 0.42x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.03x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.08x
Herefordshire 1 0.08x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.14x
Renfrewshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pylle in Somerset leads with 65 Marchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2256.94x.

Place Total Index
Pylle 65 2256.94x
Winlaton 51 56.80x
Lambeth 42 1.53x
Leicester St Margaret 39 4.59x
Gateshead 36 5.14x
Islington London 35 1.15x
Shoreditch London 33 2.42x
Dagenham 32 86.58x
Peterborough 32 14.94x
Portsea 32 2.53x
Camberwell 30 1.49x
St Pancras London 30 1.18x
St Marylebone London 28 1.67x
Plymouth St Andrew 27 5.35x
Hackney London 26 1.47x
West Ham 23 1.68x
Marston Magna 22 670.73x
Birmingham 21 0.79x
Mile End Old Town 21 4.23x
Wellingborough 21 14.11x
Poplar London 19 3.20x
St George Hanover 19 4.63x
Croydon 18 2.12x
Leeds 18 1.02x
Romford 18 18.34x
Tottenham 18 3.59x
Walsall Foreign 18 3.28x
Woolwich 18 4.54x
Clerkenwell London 17 2.29x
Kensington London 17 0.97x
Micklethwaite 17 1545.45x
Barking 16 8.81x
Feltham 16 50.94x
Northampton St Sepulchre 16 10.63x
Weston Super Mare 16 12.51x
Wincanton 16 61.40x
Bromley London 15 2.17x
Enfield 15 7.27x
Medomsley 15 34.36x
Shildon 15 19.94x
St George In East 15 7.01x
Walcot 15 5.56x
Brighton 14 1.31x
Evercreech 14 114.75x
Hammersmith London 14 1.81x
Malborough 14 53.78x
Manchester 14 0.83x
Pilton 14 115.99x
Sutton Stoneferry 14 15.70x
Trent 14 277.78x
Westminster St John 14 3.65x
Aston 13 0.60x
Folkestone 13 6.24x
Long Melford 13 36.51x
Aylestone 12 43.64x
Barnes 12 18.51x
Blandford Forum 12 29.46x
Brightlingsea 12 33.82x
Clapham 12 3.05x
Greenwich 12 2.40x
Lewisham 12 2.10x
Penge 12 5.97x
York St Lawrence 12 36.91x
Barnstaple 11 10.70x
Bermondsey 11 1.17x
Brentwood 11 29.05x
Finchley 11 9.12x
Holcombe 11 190.31x
Houghton Close House 11 591.40x
Humberstone 11 38.38x
Ramsgate 11 6.28x
South Weald 11 20.68x
Taunton St James 11 14.90x
Thrapston 11 73.97x
Islip 10 162.60x
Kilmersdon 10 39.97x
St Peters 10 20.14x
West Alvington 10 108.70x
West Derby 10 0.92x
Woodleigh 10 458.72x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the March surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 222
Elizabeth 139
Sarah 102
Ann 72
Eliza 64
Jane 63
Emma 50
Annie 48
Ellen 47
Alice 46
Emily 38
Hannah 34
Louisa 33
Charlotte 27
Martha 24
Maria 23
Fanny 22
Florence 19
Sophia 19
Edith 18
Ada 17
Margaret 17
Anne 16
Harriet 16
Isabella 16
Caroline 14
Lucy 14
Rose 14
Susan 12
Clara 11
Esther 10
Kate 10
Anna 9
Catherine 9
Frances 9
Jessie 9
Agnes 8
Elizth. 8
Amelia 7
Henrietta 7
Rosa 7
Susannah 7
Amy 6
Bessie 6
Gertrude 6
Harriett 6
Julia 6
Lydia 6
Phoebe 6
Matilda 5

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the March surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 200
John 162
George 103
James 100
Thomas 95
Charles 82
Henry 70
Joseph 70
Alfred 41
Frederick 36
Walter 34
Edward 33
Richard 33
Robert 31
Arthur 26
Samuel 25
Albert 20
Harry 18
Edwin 17
Herbert 13
Frank 12
Fred 12
Geo. 11
Wm. 8
David 7
Francis 7
Sydney 6
Benjamin 5
Ephraim 5
Isaac 5
Jonathan 5
Ralph 5
Stephen 5
Thos. 5
Andrew 4
Ernest 4
Fredrick 4
Nicholas 4
Reuben 4
Tom 4
Chas. 3
Christopher 3
Elijah 3
Fredk. 3
J. 3
Jacob 3
Josiah 3
Mark 3
Maurice 3
Sidney 3

FAQ

March surname: questions and answers

How common was the March surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,217 people were recorded with the March surname. That placed it at #1,407 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the March surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,750 in 2016. That gives March a modern rank of #1,811.

What does the March surname mean?

An English topographic surname for someone who lived near a boundary or borderland.

What does the March map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of March bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.