NameCensus.

UK surname

Marcus

A Roman praenomen and patronymic surname derived from Mars, the god of war, fertility, and agriculture in Roman mythology.

In the 1881 census there were 179 people recorded with the Marcus surname, ranking it #13,787 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 958, ranked #5,998, up from #13,787 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Croydon, Barnet and Harrow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marcus is 958 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 435.2%.

1881 census count

179

Ranked #13,787

Modern count

958

2016, ranked #5,998

Peak year

2016

958 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Marcus had 179 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,787 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 958 in 2016, ranked #5,998.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 500 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Marcus surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Marcus surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Marcus 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 45 #25,168
1861 historical 81 #23,431
1881 historical 179 #13,787
1891 historical 202 #14,808
1901 historical 439 #8,863
1911 historical 500 #7,831
1997 modern 761 #6,805
1998 modern 796 #6,774
1999 modern 810 #6,730
2000 modern 783 #6,891
2001 modern 760 #6,922
2002 modern 805 #6,742
2003 modern 784 #6,764
2004 modern 794 #6,712
2005 modern 790 #6,666
2006 modern 792 #6,685
2007 modern 784 #6,805
2008 modern 786 #6,856
2009 modern 805 #6,851
2010 modern 880 #6,513
2011 modern 885 #6,403
2012 modern 918 #6,151
2013 modern 933 #6,176
2014 modern 939 #6,182
2015 modern 944 #6,097
2016 modern 958 #5,998

Geography

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Where Marcus' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Liverpool and St John Hampstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Croydon, Barnet, Harrow and Bexley. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 St John Hampstead London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Croydon 034 Croydon
2 Barnet 033 Barnet
3 Harrow 001 Harrow
4 Barnet 018 Barnet
5 Bexley 001 Bexley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Marcus

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Marcus

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Marcus surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Marcus 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Marcus is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Marcus is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Marcus falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Marcus is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Marcus

The surname Marcus has its origins in ancient Rome, where it was a common praenomen (given name) derived from the name of the Roman god Mars, the god of war. The name was originally spelled "Marcus" in Latin.

The name Marcus was first used as a hereditary surname during the Middle Ages, particularly in Italy and other parts of Europe that were influenced by Roman culture. It is likely that the name was adopted as a surname by families who traced their ancestry back to someone who bore the given name Marcus.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Marcus can be found in the Domesday Book, a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name is listed as "Marcus" in this document.

In the 12th century, a notable bearer of the surname was Petrus Marcus, a Italian philosopher and theologian who was born in Venice around 1140. He is known for his work on logic and metaphysics.

During the Renaissance period, the Marcus surname was associated with several notable figures in the arts and literature. One example is the Italian painter and architect Battista Marco Gambara (c. 1490-1573), who was known for his frescoes and architectural designs in northern Italy.

Another notable bearer of the Marcus surname was the German humanist and scholar Johannes Marcus (1543-1628), who was a professor of rhetoric and poetry at the University of Wittenberg.

In the 18th century, the Marcus surname was associated with the English poet and playwright Moses Marcus (1730-1787), who was born in London and is best known for his satirical plays and poems.

Another significant bearer of the Marcus surname was the French military leader and politician Étienne Jacques Joseph Alexandre Marcus (1770-1828), who served as a general under Napoleon Bonaparte and later became a member of the French Chamber of Deputies.

Throughout history, the surname Marcus has been spelled in various ways, including Marcuse, Markus, and Marcou, depending on the region and language. It has also been associated with certain place names, such as the Italian town of Marco, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in some cases.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Marcus families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Marcus 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 70 Marcus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.86x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 70 3.86x
Lancashire 28 1.30x
Surrey 27 3.05x
Devon 12 3.18x
Warwickshire 8 1.75x
Channel Islands 7 13.02x
Orkney 7 35.07x
Hampshire 6 1.61x
Cheshire 3 0.75x
Yorkshire 3 0.17x
Durham 2 0.37x
Hertfordshire 2 1.60x
Kent 2 0.32x
Sussex 2 0.65x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.60x
Angus 1 0.60x
Fife 1 0.93x
Gloucestershire 1 0.28x
Perthshire 1 1.23x
Royal Navy 1 4.63x
Worcestershire 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 18 Marcus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.53x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 18 15.53x
Hampstead London 13 46.02x
St Pancras London 10 6.85x
Dartmouth St Saviour 9 833.33x
St Anne Soho London 9 86.87x
Stoke Newington London 9 63.69x
Thornton In Fylde 9 191.08x
West Derby 8 12.70x
Bethnal Green London 7 8.88x
St Helier 7 40.00x
Westminster St James 7 37.53x
Westray Papa Westray 7 443.04x
Portsea 6 8.23x
Putney 6 72.55x
Edgbaston 5 35.24x
Liverpool 5 3.82x
Paddington London 4 6.00x
St George Bloomsbury 4 38.42x
Birmingham 3 1.97x
Leeds 3 2.96x
West Kirby 3 428.57x
Whitechapel London 3 16.78x
Battersea 2 3.00x
Bishop Stortford 2 47.85x
Brighton 2 3.24x
Dartmouth Townstall 2 129.87x
Heaton Norris 2 16.33x
Westoe 2 6.54x
Aberdour 1 92.59x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 2.92x
Clerkenwell London 1 2.34x
Dundee 1 1.59x
Everton 1 1.46x
Gillingham 1 7.84x
Huyton With Roby 1 39.68x
Islington London 1 0.57x
Kilmadock 1 53.48x
Lambeth 1 0.63x
Minster In Sheppey 1 9.76x
Old Deer 1 31.45x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 3.44x
Shadwell London 1 19.69x
St Botolph Aldersgate 1 48.08x
Stroud 1 14.45x
Toxteth Park 1 1.37x
Whistones 1 58.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 4
Elizabeth 4
Mary 4
Frances 3
Alice 2
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Hannah 2
Henrietta 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Rose 2
Sarah 2
Anny 1
Catherine 1
Craten 1
Daisey 1
Darette 1
Dora 1
Eleanor 1
Elisa 1
Eliza 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Eveline 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Frida 1
Hilda 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
Jannette 1
Jeane 1
Jeanette 1
Jennette 1
Jessie 1
Josand 1
Kate 1
Kelly 1
Kendrick 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Marian 1
Millie 1
Priscilla 1
Rachel 1
Roseanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
Henry 6
George 5
Charles 4
Joseph 4
Herbert 3
Solomon 3
William 3
David 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
James 2
Lewis 2
Phillip 2
Richard 2
Benjamin 1
Bernard 1
C. 1
Christian 1
Dagobert 1
Dan 1
Ernest 1
Fredc. 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Gevson 1
Hams 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Heinrich 1
Henrie 1
Herman 1
Isaac 1
Julius 1
Leopold 1
Leslie 1
Levy 1
Louis 1
M.L. 1
Marcus 1
Mark 1
Maurice 1
Mayer 1
Michael 1
Neville 1
Philip 1
Pieter 1
Reuben 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Marcus surname: questions and answers

How common was the Marcus surname in 1881?

In 1881, 179 people were recorded with the Marcus surname. That placed it at #13,787 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Marcus surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 958 in 2016. That gives Marcus a modern rank of #5,998.

What does the Marcus surname mean?

A Roman praenomen and patronymic surname derived from Mars, the god of war, fertility, and agriculture in Roman mythology.

What does the Marcus map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Marcus 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.