NameCensus.

UK surname

Marquis

A noble title derived from the Old French "marchis," meaning "ruler of border lands" or "lord of the marches."

In the 1881 census there were 437 people recorded with the Marquis surname, ranking it #7,472 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 765, ranked #7,175, up from #7,472 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirkham, London parishes and Auckland St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, East Riding of Yorkshire and Burnley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marquis is 777 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 75.1%.

1881 census count

437

Ranked #7,472

Modern count

765

2016, ranked #7,175

Peak year

2010

777 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Marquis had 437 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,472 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 765 in 2016, ranked #7,175.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 464 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Marquis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Marquis surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Marquis 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 203 #10,291
1861 historical 221 #11,031
1881 historical 437 #7,472
1891 historical 408 #8,733
1901 historical 464 #8,512
1911 historical 274 #12,150
1997 modern 614 #8,019
1998 modern 684 #7,613
1999 modern 693 #7,580
2000 modern 713 #7,395
2001 modern 673 #7,587
2002 modern 687 #7,625
2003 modern 672 #7,634
2004 modern 678 #7,601
2005 modern 707 #7,271
2006 modern 676 #7,576
2007 modern 692 #7,491
2008 modern 708 #7,416
2009 modern 739 #7,331
2010 modern 777 #7,183
2011 modern 769 #7,172
2012 modern 736 #7,331
2013 modern 766 #7,220
2014 modern 772 #7,196
2015 modern 756 #7,260
2016 modern 765 #7,175

Geography

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Where Marquis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirkham, London parishes, Auckland St Andrew, Glenorchy and Inishail and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Westminster, East Riding of Yorkshire, Burnley and Southend-on-Sea. 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 Kirkham Lancashire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Auckland St Andrew Durham
4 Glenorchy and Inishail Argyll
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Westminster 007 Westminster
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 037 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Burnley 014 Burnley
4 Westminster 004 Westminster
5 Southend-on-Sea 017 Southend-on-Sea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Marquis

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Marquis

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Marquis is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Marquis 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

Marquis 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 Marquis is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Marquis

The surname Marquis is of French origin, derived from the French title of nobility "marquis," which itself comes from the Old French word "marchis," meaning "march" or "frontier territory." The name first emerged in the Middle Ages and was used to refer to those who held the rank of marquis or governed a frontier region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Marquis can be found in the Domesday Book, a survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Marchis" and "Markys," indicating its French roots and the fluidity of spelling during that time.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the name Marquis was Geoffroy de Marquis, a French nobleman who served as a knight and participated in the Seventh Crusade under King Louis IX of France. Another early bearer of the name was Jehan Marquis, a French poet who lived in the 14th century and wrote several works, including a collection of ballads.

During the Renaissance period, the name Marquis gained prominence in France, with several notable figures bearing it. One example is Michel de Marquis, a French diplomat and ambassador to England in the 16th century, who played a significant role in negotiations between the two countries.

In the 17th century, Jacques Marquis, a French philosopher and mathematician, made important contributions to the field of probability theory and is credited with developing the concept of probability distribution.

Moving into the 18th century, Marie-Joseph Marquis de Bombelles was a French diplomat and courtier who served as the Ambassador of France to the Netherlands and later as the Governor of the Austrian Netherlands. He played a crucial role in the events leading up to the French Revolution.

Another prominent figure with the surname Marquis was Auguste Marquis, a French composer and violinist who lived from 1784 to 1858. He composed several operas and ballets, and his works were performed at the Paris Opéra during his lifetime.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname Marquis who have left their mark throughout history, spanning various fields and time periods. The name's French origins and association with nobility and governance have contributed to its enduring legacy and significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Marquis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Marquis 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. Lancashire leads with 118 Marquis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.96x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 118 1.96x
Channel Islands 83 55.33x
Durham 47 3.12x
Argyllshire 45 31.93x
Lanarkshire 38 2.32x
Yorkshire 28 0.56x
Middlesex 27 0.53x
Renfrewshire 20 5.10x
Cheshire 18 1.61x
Surrey 15 0.61x
Dunbartonshire 11 8.09x
Fife 10 3.34x
Essex 9 0.90x
Perthshire 9 3.96x
Northumberland 8 1.06x
Kent 7 0.41x
Warwickshire 6 0.47x
Angus 5 1.07x
Somerset 4 0.49x
Ayrshire 2 0.53x
Sussex 2 0.23x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.21x
Berkshire 1 0.26x
Cumberland 1 0.23x
Gloucestershire 1 0.10x
Morayshire 1 1.27x
Ross-shire 1 0.72x
Stirlingshire 1 0.54x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Peter Port in Channel Islands leads with 34 Marquis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 122.52x.

Place Total Index
St Peter Port 34 122.52x
Kirkham 26 327.46x
Medlar With Wesham 20 1111.11x
Preston 17 10.58x
Ripon 16 137.46x
Barony 14 3.38x
St Helier 14 28.67x
St Martin 14 152.34x
Forgan 10 174.22x
Inishail 10 2222.22x
Croydon 9 6.57x
Islington London 9 1.83x
Kirkdale 9 8.91x
Oxton 9 142.41x
St Maryde Castro 9 243.90x
Accrington 8 14.65x
Habergham Eaves 8 14.57x
Hamsterley 8 941.18x
Kilcalmonell 8 250.78x
Lismore Appin 8 170.58x
North Bedburn 8 190.02x
St Michaelinthe Vale 8 149.53x
Wallsend 8 33.49x
East Thickley 7 229.51x
Govan 7 1.73x
Luss 7 551.18x
West Ham 7 3.17x
Birmingham 6 1.41x
Glasgow 6 2.06x
Knapdale South 6 123.97x
Treales Roseacre 6 618.56x
West Greenock 6 8.52x
Balquhidder 5 458.72x
Cadder 5 41.36x
Hackney London 5 1.76x
Hett 5 833.33x
Noctorum 5 2380.95x
Padiham 5 34.46x
Ribby With Wray 5 724.64x
Camberwell 4 1.24x
Claughton With Grange 4 78.59x
Dundee 4 2.28x
Dunoon Kilmun 4 36.40x
Evenwood Barony 4 78.13x
Leeds 4 1.41x
Marton 4 100.25x
Maryhill 4 12.48x
Neilston 4 20.30x
Roseneath 4 153.26x
St Andrew 4 202.02x
Stoke Newington London 4 10.14x
Woolwich 4 6.27x
Burnley 3 5.93x
Glenorchy Inishail 3 184.05x
Inverkip 3 32.43x
Kilchattan 3 315.79x
Killin 3 135.14x
Lynesack Softley 3 73.71x
Paisley Low Church 3 24.15x
Pollards Land 3 283.02x
South Bedburn Hamsterley 3 500.00x
St Pancras London 3 0.74x
Wolsingham 3 21.85x
Barton Upon Irwell 2 4.42x
Bath St Michael 2 48.54x
Blackburn 2 1.25x
Cambusnethan 2 5.50x
Chatham 2 4.21x
Eastwood 2 8.28x
Gateshead 2 1.77x
Huncoat 2 124.22x
Kensington London 2 0.71x
Shipley 2 7.68x
Stansfield 2 10.83x
Subdeanery 2 30.86x
Barnard Castle 1 13.44x
Kilmarnock 1 2.22x
Nidd 1 416.67x
Rimpton 1 222.22x
Stornoway 1 5.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Jane 18
Elizabeth 16
Margaret 12
Alice 9
Ann 9
Ellen 7
Eliza 6
Sarah 5
Annie 4
Amelia 3
Caroline 3
Emily 3
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Ada 2
Amy 2
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Isabella 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Rachel 2
Robina 2
Rosa 2
Susan 2
Betty 1
Charlot 1
Dinah 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Evelyn 1
Fanny 1
Gertrude 1
Helena 1
J. 1
Jennet 1
Jessie 1
Lara 1
Lilias 1
Lillian 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Wilhilmina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 29
James 21
William 19
Thomas 17
Henry 14
George 10
David 9
Robert 5
Samuel 4
Peter 3
Richard 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Andrew 2
Daniel 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Giles 2
Isaac 2
Nicholas 2
Walter 2
A. 1
Anthony 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Clifford 1
Dudley 1
Edwin 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
H. 1
Hellier 1
Hugh 1
J.W. 1
Jas. 1
Joseph 1
Mathew 1
Maurice 1
Nathaniel 1
Pritchard 1
Raphael 1
Reuben 1
Robt. 1
Sidney 1
Simon 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Marquis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Marquis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 437 people were recorded with the Marquis surname. That placed it at #7,472 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Marquis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 765 in 2016. That gives Marquis a modern rank of #7,175.

What does the Marquis surname mean?

A noble title derived from the Old French "marchis," meaning "ruler of border lands" or "lord of the marches."

What does the Marquis map show?

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