NameCensus.

UK surname

Marques

A Portuguese and Galician occupational surname referring to a person who served as a marquis or landowner.

In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Marques surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,523, ranked #4,066, up from #32,765 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Lambeth and Bournemouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marques is 1,523 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21657.1%.

1881 census count

7

Ranked #32,765

Modern count

1,523

2016, ranked #4,066

Peak year

2016

1,523 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Marques had 7 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,523 in 2016, ranked #4,066.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 26 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Marques surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Marques surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Marques 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 16 #30,441
1861 historical 26 #30,677
1881 historical 7 #32,765
1891 historical 16 #32,868
1901 historical 13 #32,633
1911 historical 17 #31,675
1997 modern 349 #12,197
1998 modern 429 #10,795
1999 modern 443 #10,577
2000 modern 499 #9,653
2001 modern 481 #9,743
2002 modern 557 #8,894
2003 modern 558 #8,740
2004 modern 638 #7,939
2005 modern 702 #7,329
2006 modern 790 #6,701
2007 modern 896 #6,108
2008 modern 1,003 #5,639
2009 modern 1,074 #5,429
2010 modern 1,187 #5,094
2011 modern 1,177 #5,071
2012 modern 1,282 #4,631
2013 modern 1,372 #4,442
2014 modern 1,456 #4,270
2015 modern 1,486 #4,173
2016 modern 1,523 #4,066

Geography

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Where Marques' 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 Swindon, Lambeth, Bournemouth and Camden. 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 Swindon 015 Swindon
2 Lambeth 006 Lambeth
3 Bournemouth 024 Bournemouth
4 Camden 007 Camden
5 Lambeth 011 Lambeth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Marques

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Marques

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Marques surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Marques 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Marques is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Marques 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

Marques 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 Marques 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 - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Marques, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Marques

The surname Marques has its origins in Portugal, with records of the name dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Portuguese word "marquês," which means "marquis" or "lord of the march." The name likely originated from a title bestowed upon landowners or noblemen who governed border territories or marches.

In medieval Portugal, the Marques family held significant power and influence, particularly in the regions near the Spanish border. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the "Livro Velho de Linhagens" (Old Book of Lineages), a 14th-century Portuguese manuscript detailing the genealogies of noble families.

The Marques surname was also associated with the town of Marques, located in the northern region of Portugal. This place name is believed to have contributed to the widespread use of the surname among families residing in or near that area.

One notable figure in history bearing the Marques surname was Pedro Álvares Marques, a Portuguese explorer born around 1480. He was a prominent figure in the Age of Discovery, leading expeditions to Brazil and the coast of Africa in the early 16th century.

Another prominent individual was João Marques de Almeida, a 17th-century Portuguese military leader and colonial administrator. He served as the fourth viceroy of Portuguese India from 1623 to 1628 and played a significant role in the expansion of Portuguese influence in the region.

In the 18th century, José Marques da Silva Leitão, born in 1736, was a renowned Portuguese architect and engineer. He designed several notable buildings, including the iconic Clérigos Tower in Porto, which is considered a masterpiece of Baroque architecture.

Moving to the 19th century, Eugénio dos Santos Marques, born in 1834, was a prominent Portuguese writer and journalist. He was a staunch advocate for social reforms and played a crucial role in the development of Portuguese literature during the Romantic period.

Lastly, in the 20th century, Fernando Marques da Costa, born in 1913, was a celebrated Portuguese architect and urban planner. He is best known for his contributions to the modernist architectural movement in Portugal and his influential urban planning projects in Lisbon.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who carried the Marques surname throughout history, reflecting the name's deep roots and significance in Portuguese culture and society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Marques families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Marques 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 4 Marques' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.88x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 4 5.88x
Surrey 2 6.03x
Renfrewshire 1 18.94x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paddington London in Middlesex leads with 3 Marques' recorded in 1881 and an index of 120.00x.

Place Total Index
Paddington London 3 120.00x
Lambeth 2 33.67x
Hornsey 1 116.28x
Paisley High Church 1 238.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 1
Henrietta 1
Louisa 1
Suzanne 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Francisco 1
Frederick 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 Marques households.

FAQ

Marques surname: questions and answers

How common was the Marques surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Marques surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Marques surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,523 in 2016. That gives Marques a modern rank of #4,066.

What does the Marques surname mean?

A Portuguese and Galician occupational surname referring to a person who served as a marquis or landowner.

What does the Marques map show?

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