NameCensus.

UK surname

Marrett

French surname derived from the Norman personal name 'Marret' or 'Maret', itself from a diminutive form of 'Mary'.

In the 1881 census there were 92 people recorded with the Marrett surname, ranking it #20,709 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 172, ranked #21,648, down from #20,709 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Battersea and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Lewisham and Trafford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marrett is 222 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 87.0%.

1881 census count

92

Ranked #20,709

Modern count

172

2016, ranked #21,648

Peak year

1861

222 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Marrett had 92 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,709 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 172 in 2016, ranked #21,648.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 222 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Marrett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Marrett surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Marrett 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 112 #15,913
1861 historical 222 #10,993
1881 historical 92 #20,709
1891 historical 141 #19,108
1901 historical 78 #25,500
1911 historical 90 #23,797
1997 modern 153 #20,868
1998 modern 166 #20,329
1999 modern 169 #20,233
2000 modern 156 #21,235
2001 modern 158 #20,788
2002 modern 159 #21,086
2003 modern 159 #20,881
2004 modern 167 #20,367
2005 modern 172 #19,908
2006 modern 165 #20,634
2007 modern 173 #20,243
2008 modern 172 #20,523
2009 modern 167 #21,383
2010 modern 178 #20,965
2011 modern 173 #21,172
2012 modern 168 #21,516
2013 modern 176 #21,237
2014 modern 177 #21,340
2015 modern 173 #21,542
2016 modern 172 #21,648

Geography

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Where Marretts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Battersea, Lambeth, Oldswinford and Sheffling. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Lewisham, Trafford and Woking. 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 Battersea London (South Districts)
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Oldswinford Worcestershire
5 Sheffling Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 019 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Lewisham 025 Lewisham
3 Trafford 023 Trafford
4 Lewisham 010 Lewisham
5 Woking 003 Woking

Forenames

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First names often paired with Marrett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Marrett

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Marrett is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Marrett is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Marrett 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 Marrett 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 Marrett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Marrett

The surname Marrett is of English origin, deriving from the Old French word "marette" or "marrette," meaning a small hammer or mallet. This occupational surname likely emerged in the late 12th century, referring to individuals employed as hammersmiths or malletmakers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Marrett surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1327, where one John Marrett was listed as a taxpayer. The name also appears in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Wiltshire in 1332, mentioning a Phillip Marrett.

The Marrett surname has been associated with various place names, particularly in the counties of Somerset and Wiltshire, where the name was prominent. For instance, the village of Marrett in Somerset likely derived its name from the surname itself, suggesting the presence of Marrett families in the area.

Notable individuals bearing the Marrett surname include:

1. John Marrett (c. 1590-1672), an English clergyman and academic who served as the President of St John's College, Oxford, from 1647 to 1662.

2. Thomas Marrett (1609-1685), an English mathematician and astronomer, best known for his contributions to the study of comets.

3. Robert Marrett (1635-1703), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Cricklade in Wiltshire from 1695 to 1701.

4. William Marrett (1772-1859), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy.

5. Henry Marrett (1832-1916), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Queen's Gate Terrace in Kensington.

While the Marrett surname has its roots in medieval occupational origins, it has since become widely dispersed throughout England and beyond, with families bearing this name contributing to various fields, including academia, politics, and the armed forces.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Marrett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Marrett 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. Surrey leads with 23 Marretts recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.57x.

County Total Index
Surrey 23 4.57x
Middlesex 16 1.55x
Yorkshire 16 1.56x
Channel Islands 14 45.69x
Cambridgeshire 6 9.16x
Lanarkshire 5 1.50x
Nottinghamshire 5 3.59x
Monmouthshire 4 5.35x
Staffordshire 4 1.15x
Wiltshire 4 4.37x
Essex 2 0.98x
Hampshire 2 0.94x
Lincolnshire 2 1.21x
Devon 1 0.46x
Huntingdonshire 1 4.87x
Leicestershire 1 0.87x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clapham in Surrey leads with 11 Marretts recorded in 1881 and an index of 85.07x.

Place Total Index
Clapham 11 85.07x
St Peter Port 10 176.37x
Battersea 9 23.66x
Goole 9 523.26x
Wisbech St Peter 6 182.93x
Govan 5 6.05x
Poplar London 5 25.63x
Bestwood Park 4 1600.00x
Bow London 4 30.40x
Easton 4 3636.36x
South Milford 4 1081.08x
St Woollos 4 47.96x
Amblecote 3 303.03x
Guiseley 3 229.01x
St Helier 3 30.09x
Colchester St Martin 2 540.54x
Islington London 2 2.00x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 9.62x
Sutterton 2 606.06x
Whitechapel London 2 19.63x
Hammersmith London 1 3.93x
Kensington London 1 1.74x
Lambeth 1 1.11x
Millbrook 1 18.73x
Nottingham St Nicholas 1 52.63x
Pidley Cum Fenton 1 625.00x
Plymouth Charles The 1 10.55x
Portsea 1 2.41x
St George Hanover 1 7.41x
St Saviour 1 59.17x
Stathern 1 526.32x
Wolverhampton 1 3.73x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Marrett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Marrett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 92 people were recorded with the Marrett surname. That placed it at #20,709 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Marrett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 172 in 2016. That gives Marrett a modern rank of #21,648.

What does the Marrett surname mean?

French surname derived from the Norman personal name 'Marret' or 'Maret', itself from a diminutive form of 'Mary'.

What does the Marrett map show?

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