NameCensus.

UK surname

Marfo

Of Scottish origin, a surname derived from the nickname "Marfo", meaning "big lipped" or "large mouthed".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Enfield, Hackney and Lambeth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marfo is 249 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

249

2016, ranked #16,847

Peak year

2016

249 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 249 in 2016, ranked #16,847.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Marfo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Marfo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Marfo 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
1861 historical 3 #33,861
1997 modern 82 #29,325
1998 modern 87 #29,240
1999 modern 84 #29,700
2000 modern 81 #30,036
2001 modern 80 #29,945
2002 modern 98 #28,243
2003 modern 113 #25,797
2004 modern 134 #23,425
2005 modern 148 #21,961
2006 modern 170 #20,214
2007 modern 186 #19,337
2008 modern 189 #19,315
2009 modern 213 #18,284
2010 modern 234 #17,544
2011 modern 217 #18,271
2012 modern 215 #18,304
2013 modern 235 #17,515
2014 modern 248 #16,991
2015 modern 245 #17,040
2016 modern 249 #16,847

Geography

Back to top

Where Marfos are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Enfield, Hackney, Lambeth and Tower Hamlets. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Enfield 003 Enfield
2 Hackney 002 Hackney
3 Lambeth 011 Lambeth
4 Tower Hamlets 024 Tower Hamlets
5 Hackney 014 Hackney

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Marfo

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Marfo

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Marfo surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Marfo 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Marfo is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Marfo 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

Marfo falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Marfo 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
Black - African

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

Meaning and origin of Marfo

The surname MARFO has its origins in Italy, with the earliest recorded examples dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "marra," which referred to a type of hoe or spade used in agriculture. This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals involved in farming or agricultural work.

In the medieval period, the name MARFO appeared in various regions of Italy, including Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio. Historical records from this time show variations in spelling, such as "Marfoli," "Marfoglio," and "Marfone." These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and scribal errors in transcribing the name.

One notable early reference to the name MARFO can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Amiatinus, a collection of medieval documents from the Abbey of Monte Amiata in Tuscany. This manuscript, dating from the 12th to 14th centuries, includes mentions of individuals with the surname MARFO, suggesting its presence in the region during that period.

As the centuries progressed, the name MARFO spread across Italy and beyond. In the 15th century, a merchant named Giacomo MARFO (born circa 1420) was recorded as conducting business in Venice, indicating the name's presence in the prosperous trading city. Another individual of note was Ludovico MARFO (1524-1601), a scholar and author from Parma who wrote extensively on topics ranging from philosophy to mathematics.

In the 17th century, the MARFO surname found its way to the island of Sicily, where a line of landowners and nobility carried the name. One prominent figure was Vincenzo MARFO (1632-1714), a nobleman and patron of the arts who commissioned several grand works of architecture and sculpture in Palermo.

Moving into the 18th and 19th centuries, the name MARFO continued to be present across various regions of Italy. Notable individuals from this period include Girolamo MARFO (1765-1832), a composer and music teacher from Naples, and Maria MARFO (1812-1888), a renowned opera singer who performed in theaters across Europe.

While the surname MARFO originated in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world through immigration and migration. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval period in the Italian peninsula, where it was likely first adopted by individuals involved in agricultural pursuits.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Marfo surname: questions and answers

How common is the Marfo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 249 in 2016. That gives Marfo a modern rank of #16,847.

What does the Marfo surname mean?

Of Scottish origin, a surname derived from the nickname "Marfo", meaning "big lipped" or "large mouthed".

What does the Marfo map show?

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