UK surname
From a marking tool originally used by foresters or surveyors.
In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Marking surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 48, ranked #35,004, down from #26,869 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Sudbury All Saints, Sudbury St Gregory, Sudbury St Peter, Sudbury St Bartholomew and Hauxton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marking is 129 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.0%.
1881 census count
48
Ranked #26,869
Modern count
48
2016, ranked #35,004
Peak year
1861
129 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Marking surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Marking surname density by area, 1861 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 | 25 | #28,853 |
| 1861 | historical | 129 | #17,271 |
| 1881 | historical | 48 | #26,869 |
| 1891 | historical | 73 | #27,677 |
| 1901 | historical | 55 | #28,064 |
| 1911 | historical | 54 | #27,423 |
| 1997 | modern | 46 | #33,077 |
| 1998 | modern | 42 | #33,651 |
| 1999 | modern | 36 | #34,323 |
| 2000 | modern | 44 | #33,602 |
| 2001 | modern | 44 | #33,490 |
| 2002 | modern | 46 | #33,631 |
| 2003 | modern | 45 | #33,803 |
| 2004 | modern | 46 | #33,883 |
| 2005 | modern | 41 | #34,478 |
| 2006 | modern | 36 | #35,131 |
| 2007 | modern | 37 | #35,215 |
| 2008 | modern | 33 | #35,556 |
| 2009 | modern | 37 | #35,434 |
| 2010 | modern | 43 | #35,233 |
| 2011 | modern | 46 | #35,047 |
| 2012 | modern | 40 | #35,369 |
| 2013 | modern | 45 | #35,167 |
| 2014 | modern | 45 | #35,201 |
| 2015 | modern | 46 | #35,109 |
| 2016 | modern | 48 | #35,004 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Sudbury All Saints, Sudbury St Gregory, Sudbury St Peter, Sudbury St Bartholomew, Hauxton and Nazeing. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Sudbury All Saints, Sudbury St Gregory, Sudbury St Peter, Sudbury St Bartholomew | Suffolk |
| 3 | Hauxton | Cambridgeshire |
| 4 | Nazeing | Essex |
| 5 | London parishes | London 2 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Marking 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 Marking, 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 Marking surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Marking 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, Marking 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 Marking is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Marking, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Marking originated in England, with its earliest known roots dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "mærce," which means "a boundary or frontier." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a boundary or border region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Marking can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Hertfordshire from 1195, where a person named Willelmus de Markinge is mentioned. This historical record provides evidence that the name was already in use by the late 12th century.
The Marking surname is also found in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire from 1273, which lists a person named Richard de Merkyng. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time, with different scribes recording it in various ways.
During the 13th century, the name Marking appears to have been concentrated in the counties of Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, which were located in the southern and eastern regions of England. It is possible that the name may have originated from a specific place name, although no definitive records have been found to confirm this.
One notable individual with the surname Marking was Sir John Marking, who lived in the late 14th century and was a member of the gentry in Hertfordshire. He is recorded as having served as a knight and landowner during the reign of King Richard II.
Another significant figure was Thomas Marking, who was born in 1598 in Buckinghamshire. He was a prominent Puritan minister and author, known for his sermons and religious writings during the early 17th century.
In the 18th century, there was a William Marking who was born in 1712 in Hertfordshire. He became a successful merchant and was involved in the import and export trade with the American colonies.
The 19th century saw the birth of James Marking in 1837 in Buckinghamshire. He was a renowned architect and designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall.
Finally, one of the more recent historical figures with the Marking surname was Elizabeth Marking, born in 1892 in Hertfordshire. She was a pioneering suffragette and actively campaigned for women's rights and the right to vote in the early 20th century.
Throughout its history, the Marking surname has maintained a strong presence in the counties of Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, reflecting its English origins and early roots in these regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Marking 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. Suffolk leads with 14 Markings recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.56x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Suffolk | 14 | 24.56x |
| Essex | 11 | 11.91x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 2.14x |
| Cambridgeshire | 5 | 16.87x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 5.45x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 2.85x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.44x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.22x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dalham in Suffolk leads with 6 Markings recorded in 1881 and an index of 8571.43x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dalham | 6 | 8571.43x |
| Sudbury St Peter | 6 | 1935.48x |
| Islington London | 5 | 11.02x |
| Saffron Walden | 5 | 510.20x |
| Cheltenham | 4 | 56.50x |
| Hauxton | 3 | 7500.00x |
| Ballingdon Cum Brundon | 2 | 1666.67x |
| Hornsey | 2 | 33.78x |
| Nazeing | 2 | 1666.67x |
| Soham | 2 | 312.50x |
| Toppesfield | 2 | 1428.57x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 1 | 11.57x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 3.81x |
| Ipswich St Peter | 1 | 129.87x |
| Long Melford | 1 | 188.68x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 1 | 10.62x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 16.37x |
| St Mary Le Bow London | 1 | 5000.00x |
| St Quivox | 1 | 84.75x |
| Wooldale | 1 | 126.58x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Marking 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 Marking 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 Marking households.
FAQ
In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Marking surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 48 in 2016. That gives Marking a modern rank of #35,004.
From a marking tool originally used by foresters or surveyors.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Marking 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.