NameCensus.

UK surname

Marx

A German and Jewish surname derived from a shortened form of the given name Marcus or Mark.

In the 1881 census there were 95 people recorded with the Marx surname, ranking it #20,349 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 312, ranked #14,350, up from #20,349 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Dover St James, Dover St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cults, Bieldside and Milltimber West, Barnet and Forest of Dean.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marx is 312 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 228.4%.

1881 census count

95

Ranked #20,349

Modern count

312

2016, ranked #14,350

Peak year

2016

312 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Marx had 95 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,349 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 312 in 2016, ranked #14,350.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 161 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Marx surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Marx surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Marx 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 10 #31,497
1861 historical 20 #31,364
1881 historical 95 #20,349
1891 historical 75 #27,414
1901 historical 116 #20,933
1911 historical 161 #17,072
1997 modern 182 #18,693
1998 modern 197 #18,283
1999 modern 206 #17,905
2000 modern 214 #17,457
2001 modern 216 #17,103
2002 modern 242 #16,186
2003 modern 239 #16,093
2004 modern 237 #16,283
2005 modern 238 #16,198
2006 modern 253 #15,602
2007 modern 273 #14,959
2008 modern 274 #15,063
2009 modern 269 #15,589
2010 modern 286 #15,231
2011 modern 285 #15,140
2012 modern 297 #14,607
2013 modern 296 #14,876
2014 modern 303 #14,733
2015 modern 306 #14,536
2016 modern 312 #14,350

Geography

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Where Marx' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Dover St James, Dover St Mary and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cults, Bieldside and Milltimber West, Barnet, Forest of Dean, Hounslow and South Gloucestershire. 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 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cults, Bieldside and Milltimber West Aberdeen City
2 Barnet 037 Barnet
3 Forest of Dean 009 Forest of Dean
4 Hounslow 020 Hounslow
5 South Gloucestershire 014 South Gloucestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Marx

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Marx

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Marx surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Marx 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Marx 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

Marx 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

Marx falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Marx 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Marx

The surname MARX is of German origin, deriving from the Latin name Marcus, which in turn originated from the Roman god of war, Mars. The name first appeared in the 9th century in the region that is now modern-day Germany.

MARX is thought to have evolved from the Old German word "marc," meaning boundary or frontier. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a boundary or border area. Alternatively, it could have been an occupational name for someone who worked as a boundary guard or marker.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MARX dates back to the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of medieval Saxon documents from the 12th century. The name is listed as "Marcvs" in this text.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in the Hirsauer Codex, a manuscript from the Hirsau Abbey in the Black Forest region of Germany, written as "Marcvs."

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England conducted in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, does not contain any direct references to the surname MARX, as it was primarily focused on documenting landowners and their holdings.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname MARX was Johann Marx, a German theologian and reformer born in 1491 in Nuremberg, Germany. He was a supporter of Martin Luther and played a role in the Protestant Reformation.

Another notable figure was the philosopher and economist Karl Marx, born in 1818 in Trier, Prussia (now part of Germany). He is best known for his influential works on socialism and communism, such as "Das Kapital" and "The Communist Manifesto."

In the 19th century, the MARX surname was also associated with the Marx Brothers, a famous group of American comedians and entertainers, including Chico Marx (born 1887), Harpo Marx (born 1888), Groucho Marx (born 1890), and Zeppo Marx (born 1901).

The name MARX has also been connected to various place names in Germany, such as the town of Marxheim in Bavaria and the village of Marx in Rhineland-Palatinate.

Throughout history, other individuals with the surname MARX have made significant contributions in various fields, including the German composer Adolf Bernhard Marx (1795-1866), known for his works on music theory and history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Marx families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Marx 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. Middlesex leads with 37 Marx' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.95x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 37 3.95x
Kent 21 6.57x
Surrey 21 4.60x
Nottinghamshire 5 3.96x
Cheshire 4 1.94x
Durham 3 1.08x
Hampshire 3 1.56x
Royal Navy 1 8.96x
Warwickshire 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitfield in Kent leads with 11 Marx' recorded in 1881 and an index of 11000.00x.

Place Total Index
Whitfield 11 11000.00x
Lambeth 8 9.80x
Newington 7 20.24x
St George Bloomsbury 7 130.35x
St Pancras London 7 9.29x
Basford 5 85.91x
Charlton Next Woolwich 5 150.15x
Deptford St Paul 5 20.29x
Hampstead London 5 34.29x
Bow London 4 33.56x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 4 168.07x
St Marylebone London 4 8.00x
Streatham 4 57.55x
Bishopwearmouth 3 12.55x
Clerkenwell London 3 13.57x
Kensington London 3 5.76x
New Alresford 3 600.00x
Islington London 2 2.20x
Merton 2 250.00x
Paddington London 1 2.90x
Royal Navy 1 10.48x
Shoreditch London 1 2.46x
Southam 1 175.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Bertha 3
Margaret 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Clara 2
Constance 2
Marie 2
Mary 2
Phillippa 2
Amalie 1
Anna 1
Augustine 1
Be...tce 1
Berther 1
Catherine 1
Cornelia 1
Daisy 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Hedwig 1
Hellina 1
Ida 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Lilla 1
Lizzie 1
Lucia 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Pauline 1
Sarah 1
Susannah 1
Therese 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 3
John 3
Adam 2
Edward 2
James 2
Louis 2
Adolf 1
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Bertie 1
Carl 1
Ernest 1
Ferdinand 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Fritz 1
Gerard 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Hermann 1
Hubert 1
Jacques 1
Jno.Locke 1
Joseph 1
Julias 1
Julius 1
Marius 1
Monty 1
Otto 1
Paul 1
Rethard 1
Rudolph 1
Samuel 1
Thomas 1
William 1

FAQ

Marx surname: questions and answers

How common was the Marx surname in 1881?

In 1881, 95 people were recorded with the Marx surname. That placed it at #20,349 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Marx surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 312 in 2016. That gives Marx a modern rank of #14,350.

What does the Marx surname mean?

A German and Jewish surname derived from a shortened form of the given name Marcus or Mark.

What does the Marx map show?

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