NameCensus.

UK surname

Marett

A variant of the Norman French surname "Maret," possibly derived from a Germanic personal name.

In the 1881 census there were 53 people recorded with the Marett surname, ranking it #26,134 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 190, ranked #20,262, up from #26,134 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Milton Keynes, Mole Valley and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marett is 215 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 258.5%.

1881 census count

53

Ranked #26,134

Modern count

190

2016, ranked #20,262

Peak year

2010

215 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Marett had 53 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,134 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 190 in 2016, ranked #20,262.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 110 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Marett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Marett surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Marett 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 18 #30,094
1861 historical 68 #25,196
1881 historical 53 #26,134
1891 historical 81 #26,632
1901 historical 69 #26,499
1911 historical 110 #21,519
1997 modern 186 #18,448
1998 modern 187 #18,857
1999 modern 205 #17,960
2000 modern 194 #18,554
2001 modern 195 #18,215
2002 modern 210 #17,753
2003 modern 203 #17,967
2004 modern 202 #18,110
2005 modern 195 #18,458
2006 modern 197 #18,465
2007 modern 201 #18,428
2008 modern 203 #18,470
2009 modern 210 #18,426
2010 modern 215 #18,551
2011 modern 214 #18,436
2012 modern 201 #19,147
2013 modern 201 #19,454
2014 modern 200 #19,713
2015 modern 191 #20,205
2016 modern 190 #20,262

Geography

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Where Maretts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner, Southampton St Mary, St Marylebone and Southampton All Saints. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Milton Keynes, Mole Valley, Barnet, Rochford and Suffolk Coastal. 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 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon
2 Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner Hampshire
3 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Southampton All Saints Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Milton Keynes 032 Milton Keynes
2 Mole Valley 008 Mole Valley
3 Barnet 007 Barnet
4 Rochford 007 Rochford
5 Suffolk Coastal 001 Suffolk Coastal

Forenames

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First names often paired with Marett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Marett

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Marett 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

Marett is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Marett falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Marett 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 Marett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Marett

The surname Marett has its origins in France, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the French word "maret," which means "small pond" or "marsh." The name likely originated in areas of France where such geographical features were prevalent.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Marett can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname may have migrated from France to England during the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various records and manuscripts across northern France and parts of England. For instance, a Richard Marett was mentioned in the Chartulary of Lewes Priory in Sussex, England, in the year 1268. The name was also found in the Pipe Rolls of Wiltshire, England, in 1295, referring to a William Marett.

During the 14th century, the surname Marett was associated with several notable individuals. One such person was Sir John Marett, a English knight who fought alongside King Edward III in the Hundred Years' War against France. He was born around 1310 and participated in the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

In the 16th century, the Marett surname appeared in various parish records and historical documents across England and France. One noteworthy individual was Thomas Marett, a merchant from London who was involved in trade with the Netherlands. He was born in 1542 and played a role in establishing commercial ties between England and the Dutch Republic.

Another prominent figure bearing the Marett surname was Sir Robert Marett, an English politician and landowner who lived during the 17th century. Born in 1620, he served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset and was known for his involvement in local affairs and governance.

In the 18th century, the name Marett was associated with several scholars and academics. One such individual was Hubert Marett, a French philosopher and theologian who was born in 1735 and made significant contributions to the field of religious studies.

The 19th century saw the rise of Robert Marett, a British anthropologist and archaeologist who was born in 1866. He made significant contributions to the study of prehistoric societies and was a pioneer in the field of social anthropology.

Throughout its history, the surname Marett has been subject to various spellings and variations, such as Marrett, Merrett, and Merritt. These variations often reflect regional dialects and variations in pronunciation over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Marett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Marett 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. Channel Islands leads with 282 Maretts recorded in 1881 and an index of 290.36x.

County Total Index
Channel Islands 282 290.36x
Hampshire 28 4.17x
Middlesex 8 0.24x
Surrey 6 0.38x
Cheshire 5 0.69x
Gloucestershire 5 0.78x
Royal Navy 1 2.56x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Helier in Channel Islands leads with 101 Maretts recorded in 1881 and an index of 319.42x.

Place Total Index
St Helier 101 319.42x
St Clement 39 2635.14x
St Saviour 28 521.42x
St Martin 26 436.97x
St Brelade 25 1000.00x
Grouville 22 811.81x
Trinity 16 711.11x
Southampton St Mary 15 35.51x
Alverstoke 9 37.01x
St John 9 486.49x
St Peter Port 8 44.52x
St Marylebone London 6 3.43x
Bristol St Stephen 5 299.40x
Croydon 5 5.64x
Hound 4 87.72x
St Lawrence 4 150.94x
Birkenhead 3 5.20x
Oxton 2 48.90x
St Owen 2 78.43x
St Peter 2 71.43x
Ottringham 1 156.25x
Reigate Borough 1 27.17x
Royal Navy 1 2.99x
St Andrew Holborn 1 9.00x
St Pancras London 1 0.38x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 21
George 19
Charles 16
Philip 14
Thomas 12
Francis 9
Albert 5
Abraham 4
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Elias 4
Peter 4
William 4
Joseph 3
Walter 3
Daniel 2
Ernest 2
Jean 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Sydney 2
Adrian 1
Af.Frs. 1
Chs. 1
Durell 1
Ed.Le 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Elie 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk.E. 1
Isaac 1
James 1
Ph.Ch. 1
Philippe 1
Phillip 1
Reginald 1
Theophilus 1
Thornton 1

FAQ

Marett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Marett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 53 people were recorded with the Marett surname. That placed it at #26,134 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Marett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 190 in 2016. That gives Marett a modern rank of #20,262.

What does the Marett surname mean?

A variant of the Norman French surname "Maret," possibly derived from a Germanic personal name.

What does the Marett map show?

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