UK surname
A variant spelling of the occupational surname denoting someone whose work involved the sea.
In the 1881 census there were 32 people recorded with the Marry surname, ranking it #29,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16, ranked #36,998, down from #29,082 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, Llanyblodwell and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marry is 345 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 50.0%.
1881 census count
32
Ranked #29,082
Modern count
16
2016, ranked #36,998
Peak year
1861
345 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Marry surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Marry surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 156 | #12,552 |
| 1861 | historical | 345 | #7,398 |
| 1881 | historical | 32 | #29,082 |
| 1891 | historical | 154 | #18,004 |
| 1901 | historical | 44 | #29,276 |
| 1997 | modern | 29 | #34,795 |
| 1998 | modern | 24 | #35,488 |
| 1999 | modern | 23 | #35,612 |
| 2000 | modern | 22 | #35,684 |
| 2001 | modern | 20 | #35,754 |
| 2002 | modern | 22 | #35,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 21 | #35,825 |
| 2004 | modern | 20 | #36,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 21 | #36,083 |
| 2006 | modern | 19 | #36,323 |
| 2007 | modern | 23 | #36,142 |
| 2008 | modern | 22 | #36,281 |
| 2009 | modern | 21 | #36,470 |
| 2010 | modern | 25 | #36,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 25 | #36,252 |
| 2012 | modern | 29 | #35,991 |
| 2013 | modern | 25 | #36,276 |
| 2014 | modern | 19 | #36,740 |
| 2015 | modern | 18 | #36,809 |
| 2016 | modern | 16 | #36,998 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, Llanyblodwell, Manchester, Lambeth and Wakefield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Llanyblodwell | Shropshire |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Wakefield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Marry surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Marry, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Marry surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Marry household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Marry is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Marry is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Marry, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Marry has its origins in England, with records of the name dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "mære," which means "famous" or "renowned." This suggests that the name may have originated as a nickname or descriptive name for someone who was well-known or respected in their community.
One of the earliest known references to the Marry surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, which record a person named William Mery. The Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273 also mention a John Mery. These early spellings highlight the variations in the spelling of the name over time.
In the 13th century, the surname appears in various forms, such as Merye, Merri, and Mery, in records from different parts of England, including Yorkshire, Oxfordshire, and Worcestershire. This indicates that the name was relatively widespread across the country during this period.
The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and population in England compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the Marry surname. However, it does list several place names that may have influenced the development of the name, such as Meriden in Warwickshire and Merriott in Somerset.
Notable individuals with the surname Marry throughout history include:
1. Roger Marry (c. 1290 - 1363), an English clergyman and Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. 2. John Marry (c. 1450 - 1507), an English cleric and scholar who served as the Bishop of Carlisle. 3. William Marry (c. 1530 - 1595), an English printer and publisher who produced works by notable authors such as John Foxe and Edmund Spenser. 4. Anne Marry (c. 1555 - 1615), an English gentlewoman and philanthropist who founded several charitable institutions in London. 5. Robert Marry (c. 1650 - 1712), an English architect and surveyor who worked on several notable buildings in London, including the Banqueting House in Whitehall.
These examples demonstrate the wide-ranging backgrounds and professions of individuals bearing the Marry surname throughout the centuries, from clergy and scholars to publishers and architects.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Marry surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 11 Marrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.53x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 11 | 3.53x |
| Somerset | 5 | 9.96x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 1.08x |
| Northumberland | 3 | 6.46x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 2.90x |
| Devon | 1 | 1.54x |
| Durham | 1 | 1.08x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.63x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 3.41x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 5.19x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.66x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.32x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Luke London in Middlesex leads with 5 Marrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 100.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Luke London | 5 | 100.00x |
| Stoke Under Hambdon | 5 | 3125.00x |
| Hammersmith London | 3 | 39.01x |
| Morpeth | 3 | 545.45x |
| Dukinfield | 2 | 62.89x |
| Shoreditch London | 2 | 14.78x |
| Barrow In Furness | 1 | 19.84x |
| Bingley | 1 | 50.76x |
| Cheltenham | 1 | 21.19x |
| Churston Ferrers | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Clapham | 1 | 25.64x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 20.58x |
| Headington | 1 | 333.33x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 4.45x |
| Northampton All Sts | 1 | 100.00x |
| Sunderland | 1 | 60.98x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 7.97x |
| West Derby | 1 | 9.23x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Marry surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Marry surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Marry households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Coachman (Dom) | 1 |
| Dom Cook | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Fish Dealer | 1 |
| Gen Serv Dom | 1 |
| Genl Servt Domestic | 1 |
| Iron Manuf Gas Man | 1 |
| Ironer (Visiting) | 1 |
| Mate Mert Service | 1 |
| Miner (Railway Tunnel) (Laborer) | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Porter (General) | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Shipyard Rivetter ( Ship Bldr ) | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Waste Paper Dealer | 1 |
| Weaver | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 32 people were recorded with the Marry surname. That placed it at #29,082 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 16 in 2016. That gives Marry a modern rank of #36,998.
A variant spelling of the occupational surname denoting someone whose work involved the sea.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Marry bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.