UK surname
A surname derived from the Old French term "mardre," meaning marten or polecat.
In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Mard surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9, ranked #37,705, down from #31,019 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mard is 106 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 50.0%.
1881 census count
18
Ranked #31,019
Modern count
9
2016, ranked #37,705
Peak year
1851
106 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mard surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mard surname density by area, 1851 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 | 106 | #16,512 |
| 1861 | historical | 6 | #33,230 |
| 1881 | historical | 18 | #31,019 |
| 1891 | historical | 6 | #33,800 |
| 1901 | historical | 30 | #30,724 |
| 1911 | historical | 48 | #28,006 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 3 | #38,241 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 7 | #37,904 |
| 2011 | modern | 6 | #38,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 9 | #37,614 |
| 2013 | modern | 9 | #37,653 |
| 2014 | modern | 9 | #37,679 |
| 2015 | modern | 9 | #37,684 |
| 2016 | modern | 9 | #37,705 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Toxteth Park, St Pancras and Ham, East. 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 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Ham, East | Essex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mard 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 Mard, 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 Mard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mard 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, Mard 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 Mard is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mard, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Mard has its origins in ancient Persia, now known as Iran, and can be traced back to the 6th century AD. It is believed to be derived from the Persian word "mard," which means "man" or "brave warrior." This name likely originated as a descriptive term for a courageous or valiant individual.
During the reign of the Sassanid Empire in Persia, the name Mard was commonly used among the noble and warrior classes. It is found in several ancient Persian manuscripts and records from that era, indicating its prevalence and significance.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mard dates back to the 8th century AD, when a Persian poet and scholar named Mard ibn Zakariya al-Razi lived and worked. He was renowned for his contributions to the fields of medicine, philosophy, and alchemy.
In the 11th century, a Muslim scholar and historian named Mard al-Din ibn al-Athir was born in Mosul, Iraq. He is best known for his comprehensive historical work, "Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh" (The Complete History), which chronicled the events of the Islamic world from the 7th to the 13th centuries.
During the Mongol invasions of Persia in the 13th century, a notable military commander named Mard Khan led the defense forces against the Mongol armies. His bravery and leadership skills were widely acclaimed, and his name became synonymous with courage and resistance.
Another prominent figure with the surname Mard was Mirza Mard Qazvini, a 16th-century Persian poet and writer from the city of Qazvin. His poetic works were highly regarded and influential during the Safavid era in Persia.
In the 19th century, an Iranian diplomat and politician named Mirza Mard Khan served as the Ambassador of Persia to Russia. He played a significant role in negotiating treaties and fostering diplomatic relations between the two countries.
While the name Mard has its roots in ancient Persia, it has since spread to other regions and cultures, particularly in the Middle East and Central Asia. Over the centuries, various spellings and variations of the name have emerged, such as Marde, Mardy, and Mardie, reflecting the influence of local languages and dialects.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mard 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. Essex leads with 5 Mards recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.43x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | 5 | 14.43x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 1.71x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 1.72x |
| Somerset | 2 | 7.08x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 2.78x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.67x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.48x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 3.83x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 1.69x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Ham in Essex leads with 5 Mards recorded in 1881 and an index of 781.25x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| East Ham | 5 | 781.25x |
| Chard | 2 | 588.24x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 30.96x |
| Aldershot | 1 | 82.64x |
| Bainbridge | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Elswick | 1 | 48.08x |
| Folkestone | 1 | 86.21x |
| Leeds | 1 | 10.18x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 7.91x |
| St Giles In Fields | 1 | 163.93x |
| Walsall Borough | 1 | 217.39x |
| York St Sampson | 1 | 2500.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mard 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 Mard 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 Mard households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Farm Servant | 2 |
| Bricklayers Lab | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Cook (D) | 1 |
| Domestic Ser | 1 |
| Domestic Serv (Nurse) | 1 |
| Formerly Hawker Of Hardware | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Valet (Dom) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Mard surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 9 in 2016. That gives Mard a modern rank of #37,705.
A surname derived from the Old French term "mardre," meaning marten or polecat.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mard 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.