NameCensus.

UK surname

Marsters

An English surname derived from a variant of the occupation "marshaler".

In the 1881 census there were 174 people recorded with the Marsters surname, ranking it #14,042 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 249, ranked #16,847, down from #14,042 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Docking, King's Lynn St Margaret and Wootton, South. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Kingston upon Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marsters is 251 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.1%.

1881 census count

174

Ranked #14,042

Modern count

249

2016, ranked #16,847

Peak year

2014

251 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Marsters had 174 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,042 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 249 in 2016, ranked #16,847.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 223 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Marsters surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Marsters surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Marsters 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 87 #18,695
1861 historical 123 #17,914
1881 historical 174 #14,042
1891 historical 201 #14,866
1901 historical 185 #15,892
1911 historical 223 #13,951
1997 modern 227 #16,267
1998 modern 246 #15,864
1999 modern 249 #15,844
2000 modern 245 #15,955
2001 modern 235 #16,147
2002 modern 235 #16,495
2003 modern 230 #16,549
2004 modern 230 #16,643
2005 modern 223 #16,938
2006 modern 228 #16,789
2007 modern 230 #16,890
2008 modern 225 #17,282
2009 modern 235 #17,151
2010 modern 237 #17,368
2011 modern 242 #17,001
2012 modern 242 #16,886
2013 modern 247 #16,935
2014 modern 251 #16,865
2015 modern 251 #16,756
2016 modern 249 #16,847

Geography

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Where Marsters' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Docking, King's Lynn St Margaret, Wootton, South, Castle Rising and King's Lynn All Saints, South Lynn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire and Burnley. 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 Docking Norfolk
2 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
3 Wootton, South Norfolk
4 Castle Rising Norfolk
5 King's Lynn All Saints, South Lynn Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 017 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 Kingston upon Hull 004 Kingston upon Hull, City of
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 029 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Burnley 004 Burnley
5 Kingston upon Hull 003 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Marsters

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Marsters

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Marsters surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Marsters household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Marsters is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Marsters 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

Marsters falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Marsters 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Marsters

The surname Marsters originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English word "mære," meaning "famous" or "renowned," combined with the suffix "-ster," indicating an occupation or profession. The name likely referred to a person who was a messenger or herald, responsible for delivering important news or proclamations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Marester." This reference suggests that the name had already been established in England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name was sometimes spelled as "Marster" or "Marstere," reflecting the variations in spelling common during that era. The earliest known bearer of the name was Robert Marster, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275.

During the medieval period, the Marsters family was particularly prominent in the counties of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. One notable figure was John Marsters, a wealthy landowner and member of the gentry in Gloucestershire, who lived in the late 14th century.

As the name spread across England, it underwent further variations in spelling, including "Marstar," "Marstare," and "Marsters." In the 16th century, the spelling "Marsters" became more widely adopted and has remained the predominant form to this day.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Marsters was Sir John Marsters (1524-1596), a prominent English lawyer and member of the Privy Council during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He played a significant role in the legal and political affairs of the time.

Another notable figure was Captain Richard Marsters (1658-1732), a renowned English privateer and buccaneer who operated in the Caribbean during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. His exploits were widely documented, and he amassed considerable wealth through his various raids and captures.

In the literary world, the name Marsters gained recognition through the works of Charles Dickens. One of the characters in his novel "Oliver Twist" was a member of the Marsters family, reflecting the author's familiarity with the surname.

Other notable bearers of the name include Sir William Marsters (1772-1853), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars, and Sir John Marsters (1821-1904), a prominent British politician and Member of Parliament in the late 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Marsters families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Marsters 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. Norfolk leads with 98 Marsters' recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.55x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 98 37.55x
Yorkshire 23 1.37x
Middlesex 9 0.53x
Kent 7 1.21x
Staffordshire 7 1.22x
Lancashire 6 0.30x
Nottinghamshire 4 1.75x
Surrey 4 0.48x
Worcestershire 4 1.80x
Dunbartonshire 3 6.58x
Somerset 3 1.10x
Bedfordshire 2 2.28x
Gloucestershire 2 0.60x
Hampshire 1 0.29x
Northamptonshire 1 0.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Castle Rising in Norfolk leads with 24 Marsters' recorded in 1881 and an index of 12000.00x.

Place Total Index
Castle Rising 24 12000.00x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 18 229.89x
South Lynn 18 610.17x
South Wootton 10 10000.00x
Wiggenhall St Mary Virgin 9 4736.84x
Great Bircham 7 2592.59x
West Bromwich 7 21.34x
Kirkdale 6 17.71x
Cudworth 5 819.67x
Hope All Sts 5 25000.00x
Sculcoates 5 18.75x
Bethnal Green London 4 5.43x
Grimston 4 606.06x
Holy Trinity 4 9.89x
Kings Norton 4 20.12x
Leeds 4 4.21x
North Wootton 4 2105.26x
Nottingham St Mary 4 6.76x
Salton 4 4444.44x
St Clement Danes 4 145.45x
Row 3 50.85x
Wells St Cuthbert 3 161.29x
Battersea 2 3.20x
Docking 2 243.90x
Ringstead 2 740.74x
Sandy 2 129.03x
Admington 1 1111.11x
Braunston 1 161.29x
Hampstead London 1 3.78x
Maidstone 1 5.80x
Margate St John Baptist 1 9.43x
Portsmouth 1 12.48x
Quinton 1 344.83x
Rotherhithe 1 4.77x
Settle 1 77.52x
Streatham 1 7.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 9
Sarah 6
Annie 5
Susan 3
Edith 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Jessie 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Carry 1
Charlotte 1
Constance 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Georgiana 1
Helena 1
Hester 1
Hilda 1
Laura 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Margaret 1
Matilda 1
Maudie 1
Myrile 1
Naomi 1
Oceana 1
Pleasance 1
Rachel 1
Rosa 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 13
John 11
Charles 7
Thomas 7
Robert 6
James 4
Edward 3
George 3
Henry 3
Matthew 3
Alfred 2
Saddleton 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Abel 1
Albert 1
Alexis 1
Arthur 1
Baker 1
Caswell 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Elvey 1
Frederick 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Marsters surname: questions and answers

How common was the Marsters surname in 1881?

In 1881, 174 people were recorded with the Marsters surname. That placed it at #14,042 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Marsters surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 249 in 2016. That gives Marsters a modern rank of #16,847.

What does the Marsters surname mean?

An English surname derived from a variant of the occupation "marshaler".

What does the Marsters map show?

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