UK surname
A surname likely derived from a place name referring to a marshy or swampy area.
In the 1881 census there were 26 people recorded with the Marsey surname, ranking it #29,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 33, ranked #35,829, down from #29,911 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, Kings Norton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marsey is 251 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.9%.
1881 census count
26
Ranked #29,911
Modern count
33
2016, ranked #35,829
Peak year
1891
251 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Marsey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Marsey 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 | 57 | #23,092 |
| 1861 | historical | 217 | #11,220 |
| 1881 | historical | 26 | #29,911 |
| 1891 | historical | 251 | #12,729 |
| 1901 | historical | 66 | #26,794 |
| 1911 | historical | 73 | #25,541 |
| 1997 | modern | 35 | #34,174 |
| 1998 | modern | 36 | #34,246 |
| 1999 | modern | 39 | #34,058 |
| 2000 | modern | 40 | #33,976 |
| 2001 | modern | 38 | #34,004 |
| 2002 | modern | 46 | #33,631 |
| 2003 | modern | 46 | #33,710 |
| 2004 | modern | 47 | #33,819 |
| 2005 | modern | 54 | #33,433 |
| 2006 | modern | 46 | #34,415 |
| 2007 | modern | 45 | #34,699 |
| 2008 | modern | 42 | #34,994 |
| 2009 | modern | 41 | #35,221 |
| 2010 | modern | 41 | #35,358 |
| 2011 | modern | 44 | #35,161 |
| 2012 | modern | 39 | #35,415 |
| 2013 | modern | 36 | #35,643 |
| 2014 | modern | 35 | #35,722 |
| 2015 | modern | 34 | #35,756 |
| 2016 | modern | 33 | #35,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, Kings Norton, London parishes, Manchester and Cheltenham. 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 | Sedgley | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Kings Norton | Worcestershire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Cheltenham | Gloucestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Marsey 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 Marsey, 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 Marsey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Marsey 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, Marsey 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 Marsey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Marsey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Marsey is believed to have originated in the northern regions of England, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English words "mere" meaning "lake" or "pool" and "ey" meaning "island" or "watery place." This suggests that the name likely referred to a person who lived near a lake or marshy area.
One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, which date back to 1166. These records mention a person named William de Mersey, indicating that the name was already in use during that time period. Additionally, the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, includes several entries related to places with similar names, such as Mersea Island in Essex.
Throughout the following centuries, the name appeared in various historical documents and records across northern England, with slight variations in spelling, including Mersee, Mersey, and Marsy. One notable individual bearing this surname was John Marsey, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in Yorkshire during the 14th century.
In the 16th century, the name was also found in church records in the county of Lancashire, with entries for individuals such as Robert Marsey, who was baptized in 1562, and Elizabeth Marsey, who was married in 1583 in the parish of Whalley.
Another notable figure with the surname Marsey was Roger Marsey, a renowned architect and builder from Northamptonshire, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was responsible for designing and constructing several notable buildings, including parts of Kirby Hall and Apethorpe Palace.
During the 17th century, the name continued to appear in various records across England, with individuals such as Thomas Marsey, who was born in Yorkshire in 1624, and William Marsey, a landowner from Lincolnshire, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Bassingham in 1687.
As the centuries progressed, the Marsey surname spread to other parts of England and beyond, with some notable individuals bearing the name in more recent history, such as Sir Charles Marsey (1854-1929), a British civil engineer and surveyor who contributed significantly to the development of irrigation systems in India.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Marsey 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. Yorkshire leads with 12 Marseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.78x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 12 | 4.78x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 1.99x |
| Durham | 3 | 3.98x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 4.58x |
| Flintshire | 1 | 14.66x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.39x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 4.46x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 3.02x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wilstrop in Yorkshire leads with 5 Marseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 50000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Wilstrop | 5 | 50000.00x |
| Eskdaleside | 3 | 2500.00x |
| Norton | 3 | 1071.43x |
| Royton | 3 | 326.09x |
| Whitby | 3 | 352.94x |
| Britford | 1 | 666.67x |
| Dudley | 1 | 24.81x |
| Ellesmere Penley | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Elton | 1 | 96.15x |
| Everton | 1 | 10.43x |
| Islington London | 1 | 4.07x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 5.47x |
| Lythe | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Rickergate | 1 | 217.39x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Marsey 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 Marsey 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 Marsey households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Bar Maid | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Domestic | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| Iron Dresser | 1 |
| Iron Works Labourer | 1 |
| Lady's Maid | 1 |
| Mariner (Merchant Service) | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Private 7th Lancashire Militia | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 26 people were recorded with the Marsey surname. That placed it at #29,911 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 33 in 2016. That gives Marsey a modern rank of #35,829.
A surname likely derived from a place name referring to a marshy or swampy area.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Marsey 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.