NameCensus.

UK surname

Marlowe

From an English place name meaning "remnants of a lake" from Old English mere "lake" and lafe "remnants, remains."

In the 1881 census there were 31 people recorded with the Marlowe surname, ranking it #29,218 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 371, ranked #12,561, up from #29,218 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Meadows and Southside, Brighton and Hove and Coventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marlowe is 386 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1096.8%.

1881 census count

31

Ranked #29,218

Modern count

371

2016, ranked #12,561

Peak year

2013

386 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Marlowe had 31 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,218 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 371 in 2016, ranked #12,561.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 56 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Marlowe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Marlowe surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Marlowe 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 10 #31,497
1861 historical 20 #31,364
1881 historical 31 #29,218
1891 historical 36 #31,465
1901 historical 32 #30,501
1911 historical 56 #27,216
1997 modern 313 #13,158
1998 modern 322 #13,248
1999 modern 310 #13,672
2000 modern 325 #13,221
2001 modern 314 #13,318
2002 modern 309 #13,733
2003 modern 316 #13,355
2004 modern 319 #13,342
2005 modern 325 #13,080
2006 modern 341 #12,684
2007 modern 338 #12,925
2008 modern 336 #13,095
2009 modern 349 #12,995
2010 modern 358 #13,001
2011 modern 344 #13,249
2012 modern 369 #12,443
2013 modern 386 #12,243
2014 modern 386 #12,318
2015 modern 379 #12,385
2016 modern 371 #12,561

Geography

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Where Marlowes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Meadows and Southside, Brighton and Hove, Coventry, Cotswold and Gosport. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Meadows and Southside City of Edinburgh
2 Brighton and Hove 031 Brighton and Hove
3 Coventry 006 Coventry
4 Cotswold 011 Cotswold
5 Gosport 009 Gosport

Forenames

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First names often paired with Marlowe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Marlowe

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Marlowe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Marlowe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Marlowe is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Marlowe 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

Marlowe falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Marlowe

The surname MARLOWE is of English origin and dates back to the late medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the town of Marlowe in Buckinghamshire. The name is thought to have originated from the Old English words "mere" meaning a lake or pond, and "hlaw" meaning a hill or mound, thus suggesting a settlement near a hill by a lake.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Buckinghamshire from the year 1230, where it appears as "de Merlawe". Similar spellings such as "Merlow" and "Merlawe" were also common in early records.

The MARLOWE surname is not found in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, indicating that it likely emerged after the Norman Conquest of England. However, it is mentioned in various medieval charters and rolls, suggesting its presence among the English gentry and landowners of the time.

One of the most renowned individuals with the MARLOWE surname was Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593), an English playwright, poet, and translator of the Elizabethan era. He is widely considered one of the greatest dramatists of his time, with works such as "The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus" and "Tamburlaine the Great".

Another notable figure was John Marlowe (1619-1679), an English politician and military commander who served as a Parliamentarian during the English Civil War. He was a prominent figure in the Commonwealth of England and played a significant role in the events leading up to the Restoration of the monarchy.

In the 18th century, Samuel Marlowe (1710-1789) was a noted English architect who designed several churches and country houses in the Palladian style. His most famous work is the Shugborough Estate in Staffordshire, which is considered a masterpiece of Georgian architecture.

The MARLOWE name is also associated with William Marlowe (1796-1867), a British naval officer and explorer who conducted several expeditions to the Arctic regions in the mid-19th century. He played a crucial role in mapping and charting the Northwest Passage, a long-sought maritime route through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.

In the literary world, Julia Marlowe (1865-1950) was an acclaimed American actress who gained fame for her performances in various Shakespeare plays. She toured extensively and was celebrated for her interpretations of characters such as Juliet, Ophelia, and Portia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Marlowe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Marlowe 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. Northamptonshire leads with 9 Marlowes recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.65x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 9 31.65x
Nottinghamshire 6 14.72x
Middlesex 5 1.65x
Worcestershire 3 7.60x
Leicestershire 2 5.97x
Staffordshire 2 1.96x
Yorkshire 2 0.67x
Kent 1 0.97x
Warwickshire 1 1.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wootton in Northamptonshire leads with 9 Marlowes recorded in 1881 and an index of 11250.00x.

Place Total Index
Wootton 9 11250.00x
Basford 6 319.15x
Chelsea London 4 43.91x
Kings Norton 3 84.75x
Barlestone 2 2857.14x
Leeds 2 11.82x
Burton Upon Trent 1 41.84x
Cheadle 1 204.08x
Leamington Priors 1 53.19x
Pembury 1 666.67x
St George Hanover 1 25.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 3
Elizabeth 2
Mary 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Betsy 1
Charlotte 1
Emma 1
Janet 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Sarah 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 2
James 2
Joseph 2
Thomas 2
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Samuel 1
William 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 Marlowe households.

FAQ

Marlowe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Marlowe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 31 people were recorded with the Marlowe surname. That placed it at #29,218 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Marlowe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 371 in 2016. That gives Marlowe a modern rank of #12,561.

What does the Marlowe surname mean?

From an English place name meaning "remnants of a lake" from Old English mere "lake" and lafe "remnants, remains."

What does the Marlowe map show?

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