NameCensus.

UK surname

Marler

An English occupational surname referring to someone who digs or works with marl, a type of fertile soil.

In the 1881 census there were 348 people recorded with the Marler surname, ranking it #8,791 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 445, ranked #10,890, down from #8,791 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, Hanbury and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Staffordshire, Cornwall and Torbay.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marler is 529 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.9%.

1881 census count

348

Ranked #8,791

Modern count

445

2016, ranked #10,890

Peak year

1911

529 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Marler had 348 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,791 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 445 in 2016, ranked #10,890.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 529 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Marler surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Marler surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Marler 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 242 #9,001
1861 historical 236 #10,393
1881 historical 348 #8,791
1891 historical 392 #9,019
1901 historical 505 #7,988
1911 historical 529 #7,509
1997 modern 412 #10,759
1998 modern 404 #11,261
1999 modern 412 #11,203
2000 modern 404 #11,306
2001 modern 405 #11,121
2002 modern 394 #11,561
2003 modern 383 #11,614
2004 modern 375 #11,820
2005 modern 371 #11,842
2006 modern 382 #11,626
2007 modern 401 #11,353
2008 modern 409 #11,271
2009 modern 423 #11,204
2010 modern 445 #11,002
2011 modern 427 #11,243
2012 modern 422 #11,223
2013 modern 434 #11,158
2014 modern 437 #11,176
2015 modern 445 #10,921
2016 modern 445 #10,890

Geography

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Where Marlers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, Hanbury, London parishes, St Pancras and Watford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Staffordshire, Cornwall, Torbay, East Hertfordshire and Waveney. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 Hanbury Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Watford Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Staffordshire 013 East Staffordshire
2 Cornwall 007 Cornwall
3 Torbay 018 Torbay
4 East Hertfordshire 001 East Hertfordshire
5 Waveney 004 Waveney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Marler

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Marler

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Marler surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Marler 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Marler is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Marler is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Marler falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Marler

The surname Marler originated in England during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "mær" meaning "boundary" or "frontier." The name likely referred to someone who lived near a boundary or border region. Variants of the spelling include Marlar, Marlor, and Merler.

One of the earliest known records of the name Marler appears in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which list a John le Marler in Oxfordshire. In the 14th century, the name is found in various counties across southern England, including entries such as William Marler in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327 and John Marler in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379.

A notable early bearer of the name was Thomas Marler, a renowned archer who fought alongside Henry V at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. He was praised for his skill and bravery during the conflict.

In the 16th century, the Marler surname is linked to several places in England, including Marler's Green in Buckinghamshire and Marler's Hill in Hertfordshire. These toponymic connections suggest that the name may have originated from specific locations associated with boundaries or borders.

During the 17th century, Robert Marler (1598-1673) was a prominent English Puritan minister who served as the rector of St. Saviour's Church in Southwark, London. He was known for his controversial religious views and his opposition to the Church of England's hierarchy.

Another significant figure was Sir Robert Marler (1650-1709), a wealthy merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1689. He played a crucial role in supporting the Glorious Revolution that brought William III and Mary II to the English throne.

In the 18th century, the Marler name is found in various parts of Britain, with notable individuals such as William Marler (1717-1789), a successful businessman and landowner in Berkshire, and John Marler (1738-1812), a respected lawyer and magistrate in Gloucestershire.

Throughout the 19th century, the Marler surname continued to be represented across England, with individuals such as James Marler (1810-1881), a prominent industrialist and philanthropist in Birmingham, and Arthur Marler (1853-1919), a celebrated artist and illustrator known for his depictions of rural life.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Marler families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Marler 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. Middlesex leads with 97 Marlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.85x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 97 2.85x
Norfolk 48 9.17x
Surrey 39 2.35x
Warwickshire 27 3.14x
Staffordshire 24 2.09x
Yorkshire 19 0.56x
Cheshire 18 2.40x
Hertfordshire 14 5.97x
Somerset 13 2.37x
Kent 12 1.03x
Lancashire 9 0.22x
Gloucestershire 8 1.20x
Suffolk 6 1.45x
Essex 4 0.60x
Sussex 4 0.70x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.49x
Cornwall 1 0.26x
Devon 1 0.14x
Durham 1 0.10x
Glamorgan 1 0.17x
Northamptonshire 1 0.31x
Wiltshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 24 Marlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.26x.

Place Total Index
Shoreditch London 24 16.26x
Bow London 21 48.45x
Bermondsey 14 13.81x
Watford 14 76.97x
Aston 13 5.50x
Hanbury 13 2063.49x
Bethnal Green London 11 7.44x
Leeds 11 5.77x
Camberwell 10 4.60x
Hackney London 10 5.24x
Birmingham 9 3.15x
Dukinfield 9 25.92x
Newton In Ashton Under 9 121.46x
Wellington 8 107.67x
Heigham 7 24.92x
Tunstead 7 1428.57x
Bristol St Paul In 6 33.73x
Hammersmith London 6 7.15x
Hevingham 6 674.16x
Islington London 6 1.82x
Ramsgate 6 31.65x
Shenstone 6 205.48x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 8.76x
St Pancras London 6 2.19x
Blackley 5 70.62x
Lowestoft 5 25.52x
Shadwell 5 390.63x
Twickenham 5 34.25x
Sco Ruston 4 4000.00x
Uttoxeter 4 68.03x
Witton In Blofield 4 2500.00x
Holt 3 167.60x
Kingsbury 3 163.04x
Lambeth 3 1.01x
Minster In Sheppey 3 15.59x
Pendleton In Salford 3 6.23x
Strumpshaw 3 638.30x
Taunton St Mary 3 29.82x
Brighton 2 1.73x
Catfield 2 270.27x
Coleshill 2 72.73x
Deptford St Paul 2 2.23x
Great Massingham 2 194.17x
Great Yarmouth 2 4.61x
Horfield 2 29.76x
Kingston On Thames 2 5.02x
Mile End New Town 2 43.01x
Mile End Old Town 2 3.72x
Newington 2 1.59x
North Walsham 2 53.05x
Ridlington 2 869.57x
Ripe 2 444.44x
Wandsworth 2 6.10x
Wanstead 2 16.99x
Braintree 1 16.58x
Bury St Edmunds St James 1 9.03x
Calstock 1 13.23x
Calverley Cum Farsley 1 10.44x
Corsham 1 22.78x
Coundon Grange 1 45.05x
Flitcham Cum Appleton 1 185.19x
Greenwich 1 1.85x
Holy Trinity 1 1.23x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 37.04x
Neatishead 1 149.25x
Norwich St Stephen 1 20.83x
Salford 1 0.84x
St Mary Le Strand 1 92.59x
St Marylebone London 1 0.55x
Stoke Damerel 1 2.02x
Swansea St Thomas 1 16.81x
Thornham 1 131.58x
Tottenham 1 1.84x
Tutbury 1 35.71x
Upton 1 119.05x
West Ham 1 0.67x
West Monkton 1 82.64x
Westminster St John 1 2.41x
Wiveliscombe 1 32.79x
Wolverton 1 23.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Sarah 15
Elizabeth 13
Eliza 11
Emma 9
Jane 8
Charlotte 7
Alice 6
Ann 6
Emily 6
Florence 5
Annie 4
Esther 4
Louisa 4
Ada 3
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Anne 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Frances 2
Lily 2
Lucy 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Catherine 1
Clarissa 1
Constance 1
Elizth. 1
Eloise 1
Evelina 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Henrietta 1
Infant 1
Isabel 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Louise 1
Margt.A. 1
Maria 1
Marie 1
Matilda 1
Norah 1
Zilla 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 17
George 13
Charles 12
Henry 12
James 11
John 10
Thomas 8
Robert 7
Walter 6
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Ernest 4
Sidney 4
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Abraham 2
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Jas. 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Char. 1
Chas 1
Frank 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
J. 1
Jos. 1
Joseph 1
Joshua 1
Leslie 1
Lewis 1
Luther 1
Martin 1
Martland 1
Parney 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Reginald 1
Richard 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Willam 1

FAQ

Marler surname: questions and answers

How common was the Marler surname in 1881?

In 1881, 348 people were recorded with the Marler surname. That placed it at #8,791 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Marler surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 445 in 2016. That gives Marler a modern rank of #10,890.

What does the Marler surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who digs or works with marl, a type of fertile soil.

What does the Marler map show?

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