NameCensus.

UK surname

Marion

A French surname derived from the given name Marion, a diminutive of Marie, meaning "beloved" or "wished-for child."

In the 1881 census there were 70 people recorded with the Marion surname, ranking it #23,670 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 146, ranked #24,173, down from #23,670 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wealden, Sedgemoor and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marion is 160 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 108.6%.

1881 census count

70

Ranked #23,670

Modern count

146

2016, ranked #24,173

Peak year

1891

160 bearers

Map years

6

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Marion had 70 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,670 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 146 in 2016, ranked #24,173.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 160 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Marion surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Marion surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Marion 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 55 #23,413
1861 historical 150 #15,296
1881 historical 70 #23,670
1891 historical 160 #17,555
1901 historical 103 #22,444
1911 historical 118 #20,649
1997 modern 85 #28,988
1998 modern 94 #28,435
1999 modern 94 #28,593
2000 modern 100 #27,695
2001 modern 95 #28,101
2002 modern 103 #27,443
2003 modern 98 #28,046
2004 modern 96 #28,605
2005 modern 102 #27,689
2006 modern 112 #26,415
2007 modern 118 #25,913
2008 modern 118 #26,212
2009 modern 118 #26,766
2010 modern 122 #26,876
2011 modern 122 #26,647
2012 modern 122 #26,696
2013 modern 125 #26,695
2014 modern 140 #24,977
2015 modern 142 #24,617
2016 modern 146 #24,173

Geography

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Where Marions are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, St Marylebone and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wealden, Sedgemoor, Wiltshire, Reigate and Banstead and Blackford, West Mains and Mayfield Road. 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 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wealden 007 Wealden
2 Sedgemoor 012 Sedgemoor
3 Wiltshire 006 Wiltshire
4 Reigate and Banstead 003 Reigate and Banstead
5 Blackford, West Mains and Mayfield Road City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Marion

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Marion

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Marion, 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 Marion surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Marion 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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

European Enclaves

Within London, Marion is most associated with areas classed as European Enclaves, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

Many residents of these accessible neighbourhoods have wide-ranging non-UK European origins. Typically residing in privately rented flats, many residents live alone and are beyond normal retirement age. There are more students than elsewhere in the Supergroup, some of which live in communal establishments. Household residents are often drawn from different ethnic groups.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Marion 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

Marion falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Marion 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Marion

The surname Marion originated in France, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the given name "Marion," which itself stems from the Latin word "Marianus," meaning "of the sea" or "marine." The name was initially associated with coastal regions of France, particularly in Normandy.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Marion can be traced back to the 12th century. It appears in several medieval French manuscripts and records, including the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Bertin, a cartulary from the Abbey of Saint-Bertin in Saint-Omer, dating from around 1150. This document mentions individuals with the surname Marion, indicating its presence in the region at that time.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Marion was also found in other parts of France, including the Île-de-France region and the Loire Valley. It is believed that the name spread from its Normandy origins as people migrated and settled in different areas.

One notable historical figure with the surname Marion was Jean Marion, a French composer and musician who lived in the 16th century (c. 1540-1600). He was a renowned lutenist and composer of lute music during the Renaissance period.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Francis Marion (1732-1795), a military officer and revolutionary patriot from South Carolina. He played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War and is often referred to as the "Swamp Fox" for his guerrilla tactics and successful campaigns against British forces.

In the 19th century, the surname Marion was associated with several influential figures. François Marion (1776-1855) was a French military engineer and architect who designed fortifications and public buildings throughout France and Europe.

Albert Marion (1854-1925) was a French physician and neurologist who made significant contributions to the study of neurology and the understanding of neurological disorders.

Additionally, Maximilian Marion (1889-1944) was a German actor and film director active during the early 20th century, known for his work in silent films and early talkies.

While the surname Marion has its roots in France, it has since spread globally and can be found in many different countries and cultures. However, its origins can be traced back to the coastal regions of Normandy and the historical significance it held during the Middle Ages and subsequent eras.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Marion families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Marion 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. Yorkshire leads with 14 Marions recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.01x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 14 2.01x
Middlesex 10 1.42x
Kent 8 3.34x
Lanarkshire 6 2.64x
Leicestershire 6 7.71x
Lancashire 5 0.60x
Staffordshire 5 2.11x
Buteshire 3 70.42x
Suffolk 3 3.51x
Channel Islands 2 9.61x
Renfrewshire 2 3.67x
Warwickshire 2 1.13x
Cheshire 1 0.65x
Glamorgan 1 0.82x
Gloucestershire 1 0.73x
Hampshire 1 0.69x
Royal Navy 1 11.95x
Surrey 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bradford in Yorkshire leads with 9 Marions recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.41x.

Place Total Index
Bradford 9 53.41x
Govan 6 10.68x
Leicester St Margaret 6 31.60x
Altofts 4 519.48x
Dover St Mary Virgin 4 172.41x
Wolstanton 4 55.56x
Gorleston 3 138.25x
Rothesay 3 145.63x
Fulham London 2 19.63x
Seal 2 512.82x
St Gilesin Fields 2 487.80x
St Helier 2 29.54x
St Pancras London 2 3.54x
Aston 1 2.05x
Barrow In Furness 1 8.83x
Bilston 1 21.79x
Birmingham 1 1.69x
Cardiff St Mary 1 14.84x
Cathcart 1 34.01x
Chelsea London 1 4.73x
Croydon 1 5.26x
Eston 1 65.79x
Fulwood 1 111.11x
Grappenhall 1 526.32x
Hoo 1 312.50x
Islington London 1 1.47x
Liverpool 1 1.98x
Paddington London 1 3.87x
Paisley Middle Church 1 31.55x
Pennington In Leigh 1 62.50x
Portsea 1 3.54x
Preston 1 4.48x
St Marylebone London 1 2.67x
Tetbury 1 128.21x
Tonbridge 1 11.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Eliza 2
Elizabeth 2
Jane 2
Margaret 2
Margarett 2
Maria 2
Sarah 2
Amelia 1
Angela 1
Ann 1
Barnes 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Ida 1
Jn.G. 1
Laura 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
Thomas 3
William 3
Henry 2
James 2
Adolph 1
Awn 1
Dominick 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Hillery 1
Johson 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Thos. 1
Ths. 1

Top occupations

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 Marion households.

FAQ

Marion surname: questions and answers

How common was the Marion surname in 1881?

In 1881, 70 people were recorded with the Marion surname. That placed it at #23,670 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Marion surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 146 in 2016. That gives Marion a modern rank of #24,173.

What does the Marion surname mean?

A French surname derived from the given name Marion, a diminutive of Marie, meaning "beloved" or "wished-for child."

What does the Marion map show?

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