UK surname
Of Germanic origin, meaning "little falcon" or "celebrated falcon".
In the 1881 census there were 19 people recorded with the Marlen surname, ranking it #30,872 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12, ranked #37,385, down from #30,872 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Illogan, London parishes and Ealing, Chiswick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marlen is 112 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 36.8%.
1881 census count
19
Ranked #30,872
Modern count
12
2016, ranked #37,385
Peak year
1861
112 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Marlen surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Marlen 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 | 42 | #25,706 |
| 1861 | historical | 112 | #19,279 |
| 1881 | historical | 19 | #30,872 |
| 1891 | historical | 64 | #28,781 |
| 1901 | historical | 30 | #30,724 |
| 1911 | historical | 29 | #30,190 |
| 1997 | modern | 3 | #38,317 |
| 1998 | modern | 6 | #37,703 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 5 | #37,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 6 | #37,724 |
| 2006 | modern | 7 | #37,634 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 8 | #37,689 |
| 2010 | modern | 8 | #37,769 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 9 | #37,614 |
| 2013 | modern | 9 | #37,653 |
| 2014 | modern | 10 | #37,567 |
| 2015 | modern | 11 | #37,467 |
| 2016 | modern | 12 | #37,385 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Illogan, London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick, Sturminster Newton Castle and Manchester. 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 | Illogan | Cornwall |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Ealing, Chiswick | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 4 | Sturminster Newton Castle | Dorset |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Marlen 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 Marlen, 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 Marlen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Marlen 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, Marlen 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 Marlen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Marlen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Marlen is a variant of the German name Marlin, which has its origins in the Middle High German word "merlin", meaning "the blackbird". It is thought to have originated as a nickname referring to a person with dark hair or complexion.
In the 13th century, the name Marlin was recorded in various town records across parts of what is now southern Germany and western Austria. One of the earliest recorded instances was in a 1256 document from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, which mentioned a "Heinrich Marlin".
Over time, the spelling evolved into variations such as Marlen, Marlyn, and Merlin. These alternative spellings can be found in various historical records from the 15th to 18th centuries across the German-speaking regions of Europe.
The name Marlen gained further recognition in the late 15th century when it appeared in the Augsburg Book of Tax Records, which listed several families with the surname. One notable entry was for a merchant named Jörg Marlen, who lived in Augsburg during the 1480s.
In the 16th century, the name was also found in records from the city of Nuremberg, where a family of craftsmen with the surname Marlen was mentioned in guild documents from the 1530s.
Throughout the centuries, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Marlen. One of the earliest was Johann Marlen, a German painter and engraver who lived from 1521 to 1587. His works can be found in various museums across Europe.
Another prominent figure was Friedrich Marlen, a German philosopher and theologian who lived from 1625 to 1699. He was known for his writings on ethics and natural law.
In the 18th century, there was a German composer named Johann Gottlieb Marlen, who lived from 1728 to 1795. He is best known for his instrumental works and church cantatas.
In more recent history, there was a German writer and playwright named Gregor Marlen, who lived from 1884 to 1957. He was known for his satirical works that criticized the social and political conditions of his time.
Lastly, a notable figure from the 20th century was Hans Marlen, a German engineer and inventor who lived from 1905 to 1987. He is credited with several patents in the field of automotive technology and manufacturing processes.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Marlen 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. Middlesex leads with 4 Marlens recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.15x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 4 | 3.15x |
| Kent | 3 | 6.93x |
| Somerset | 2 | 9.80x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 5.89x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 12.77x |
| Surrey | 1 | 1.62x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.80x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Clement Danes in Middlesex leads with 4 Marlens recorded in 1881 and an index of 1904.76x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Clement Danes | 4 | 1904.76x |
| Faversham | 3 | 731.71x |
| Banbury | 1 | 625.00x |
| Bathford | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Bathwick | 1 | 434.78x |
| Kingston On Thames | 1 | 67.57x |
| Leeds | 1 | 14.10x |
| West Calder | 1 | 303.03x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Marlen 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 Marlen 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 Marlen households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Button Work | 2 |
| Assistant Draper | 1 |
| Boatman In Charge | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Police Constable | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 19 people were recorded with the Marlen surname. That placed it at #30,872 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 12 in 2016. That gives Marlen a modern rank of #37,385.
Of Germanic origin, meaning "little falcon" or "celebrated falcon".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Marlen 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.