NameCensus.

UK surname

Marling

An English surname derived from the Old English "mere" meaning "lake" and "ling" meaning "meadow," referring to someone living near a lakeside meadow.

In the 1881 census there were 143 people recorded with the Marling surname, ranking it #15,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 263, ranked #16,210, down from #15,955 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Roughton and Blakeney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Havering, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Tower Hamlets.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marling is 278 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 83.9%.

1881 census count

143

Ranked #15,955

Modern count

263

2016, ranked #16,210

Peak year

2002

278 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Marling had 143 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,955 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 263 in 2016, ranked #16,210.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 219 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Marling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Marling surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Marling 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 115 #15,634
1861 historical 190 #12,520
1881 historical 143 #15,955
1891 historical 147 #18,592
1901 historical 186 #15,839
1911 historical 219 #14,136
1997 modern 269 #14,543
1998 modern 273 #14,803
1999 modern 266 #15,150
2000 modern 264 #15,191
2001 modern 258 #15,194
2002 modern 278 #14,726
2003 modern 273 #14,715
2004 modern 262 #15,233
2005 modern 266 #15,007
2006 modern 269 #14,952
2007 modern 261 #15,444
2008 modern 261 #15,597
2009 modern 267 #15,661
2010 modern 278 #15,567
2011 modern 272 #15,653
2012 modern 272 #15,586
2013 modern 272 #15,836
2014 modern 277 #15,734
2015 modern 262 #16,278
2016 modern 263 #16,210

Geography

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Where Marlings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Roughton, Blakeney, Berkeley and Eastington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Havering, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Tower Hamlets, Epping Forest and Islington. 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 3
2 Roughton Norfolk
3 Blakeney Norfolk
4 Berkeley Gloucestershire
5 Eastington Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Havering 024 Havering
2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 031 Rhondda Cynon Taf
3 Tower Hamlets 014 Tower Hamlets
4 Epping Forest 003 Epping Forest
5 Islington 019 Islington

Forenames

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First names often paired with Marling

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Marling

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Marling is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Marling 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

Marling falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Marling

The surname Marling is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "mere" meaning a lake or pond, and "ling" meaning a heather-covered area. It is thought to have originated as a place name, referring to individuals who lived near a pond or lake in a heathery region.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Marling date back to the 13th century. One of the earliest documented bearers of the name was William de Merling, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1272.

Marling is also believed to have been a locational surname, derived from various places in England with similar names, such as Marling in Gloucestershire, or Marlingford in Norfolk. The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England completed in 1086, contains references to these places, although the surname itself is not mentioned.

Notable individuals with the surname Marling throughout history include:

1. Sir Samuel Marling (1572-1634), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Downton. 2. Sir Robert Marling (1653-1716), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1697. 3. John Marling (1766-1837), an English engraver and map maker, known for his detailed county maps of England and Wales. 4. Alfred Marling (1859-1936), a British businessman and philanthropist who founded the Marling School in Stroud, Gloucestershire. 5. Sir Charles Marling (1894-1979), a British businessman and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Leek and later Keighley.

While the surname Marling is not among the most common surnames in England, it has a long and documented history, with its origins rooted in the country's geography and language. The name is a testament to the rich tapestry of English toponymic surnames and their connection to the land and settlements of their bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Marling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Marling 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. Gloucestershire leads with 25 Marlings recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.14x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 25 9.14x
Middlesex 24 1.72x
Leicestershire 14 9.05x
Norfolk 13 6.06x
Surrey 11 1.62x
Yorkshire 11 0.80x
Kent 7 1.47x
Hampshire 6 2.10x
Stirlingshire 6 11.66x
Lanarkshire 5 1.11x
Warwickshire 5 1.42x
Sussex 4 1.70x
Herefordshire 3 5.25x
Essex 2 0.73x
Renfrewshire 2 1.85x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.19x
Durham 1 0.24x
Lancashire 1 0.06x
Somerset 1 0.45x
Worcestershire 1 0.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 11 Marlings recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.17x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 11 29.17x
Roughton 11 5238.10x
Holy Trinity 8 24.07x
Berkeley 7 460.53x
Leonard Stanley 7 1944.44x
Deptford St Nicholas 6 158.73x
Shoreditch London 6 9.92x
St George In East 6 63.22x
Birmingham 5 4.27x
Falkirk 5 41.53x
Glasgow 5 6.24x
Kingstanley 5 495.05x
Portsmouth 5 75.99x
Camberwell 3 3.37x
Leicester St Mary 3 24.02x
Newington 3 5.82x
Paddington London 3 5.85x
Ross 3 132.16x
St Marylebone London 3 4.03x
Clifton 2 14.46x
Keyingham 2 666.67x
Kingston On Thames 2 12.25x
Runton 2 833.33x
Southwick 2 161.29x
West Greenock 2 10.31x
West Ham 2 3.29x
Aldershot 1 10.44x
Bromley London 1 3.26x
Canterbury St Gregory 1 158.73x
Catcott 1 384.62x
Cirencester 1 27.03x
Edgware 1 256.41x
Eton 1 52.36x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 1 19.96x
Gloucester St John Baptist 1 56.50x
Lambeth 1 0.82x
Leeds 1 1.28x
New Shoreham 1 70.92x
North Meols 1 6.17x
Ore 1 57.14x
Slamannan 1 35.46x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 3.56x
St George Hanover 1 5.49x
St Pancras London 1 0.89x
Stonehouse 1 64.52x
Sunderland 1 13.64x
Tottenham 1 4.50x
Walton On Thames 1 32.05x
Whitechapel London 1 7.27x
Worcester St Peter 1 28.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 7
Mary 6
Alice 4
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Lousia 2
Ada 1
Amanda 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Carline 1
Catherine 1
Charlot 1
Charlotte 1
Christiana 1
Christina 1
Clara 1
E.A. 1
Ethel 1
Florance 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Margeret 1
Marth 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Millicent 1
Minnie 1
Naomi 1
Polly 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 8
William 7
John 6
George 5
Charles 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
James 2
Joseph 2
Samuel 2
Tom 2
A.T. 1
Alfred 1
Allan 1
Chas 1
David 1
Dick 1
Ephraim 1
Geo. 1
Henery 1
Henry 1
Lambert 1
Oliver 1
Piercy 1
Robert 1
Willing 1

FAQ

Marling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Marling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 143 people were recorded with the Marling surname. That placed it at #15,955 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Marling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 263 in 2016. That gives Marling a modern rank of #16,210.

What does the Marling surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English "mere" meaning "lake" and "ling" meaning "meadow," referring to someone living near a lakeside meadow.

What does the Marling map show?

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