Marden first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Marden has been for the last 21 years (from 2002 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Marden

A masculine name of Old English origin meaning "great valley".

Popularity of Marden by gender

Based on the last 21 years of data, Marden is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Marden.

Year Male Count Female Count
2022 5 0
2002 6 0

The history of the first name Marden

The name Marden is believed to have originated from the Old English language, dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain, which lasted from the 5th to the 11th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "mere" and "dun," which together mean "hill by the lake" or "hill by the marshland."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Marden can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and property values in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appeared in the form "Meredun," referring to a settlement in the county of Hertfordshire.

During the Middle Ages, the name Marden was primarily associated with individuals living in rural areas or involved in agricultural activities, possibly reflecting its connection to the landscape and natural features described in its etymology.

The name Marden was also found in various historical records and documents throughout the centuries, although its usage was more prevalent in certain regions of England, particularly in the counties of Hertfordshire, Kent, and Sussex.

One notable individual with the name Marden was Richard Marden (c. 1450 - c. 1520), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for the county of Kent during the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII.

Another historical figure bearing the name Marden was John Marden (1516 - 1568), an English Protestant reformer and author who wrote several theological works during the tumultuous period of the English Reformation.

In the 17th century, Thomas Marden (1620 - 1699) was a prominent Puritan minister and author in New England, having emigrated from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1630s.

During the 18th century, Benjamin Marden (1722 - 1799) was a notable American soldier and military officer who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, Edward Marden (1824 - 1892) was a British artist and painter known for his landscapes and rural scenes, many of which depicted the countryside of his native Kent.

While the name Marden has its roots in Old English and was predominantly used in certain regions of England throughout history, it has since spread to other parts of the world, though its usage has remained relatively uncommon in comparison to more popular given names.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Marden was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Marden, please contact us.

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"Marden first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 4, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/marden-meaning-and-history/.

"Marden first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/marden-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 4 August, 2025

Marden first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/marden-meaning-and-history/.

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