NameCensus.
Very Rare

Markess

A variant or diminutive form of the name Mark, ultimately derived from the Roman name Marcus.

Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Markess. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Markess today is around 25 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Markess births was 2001 (5 babies).

This page is the full Name Census profile for Markess. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.

Key insights

  • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Markess. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.

People living today

5

~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans

Peak year

2001

5 babies that year

Average age

25

years old

2001 SSA rank

#11,683

Tracked since 2001

Popularity

Markess: popularity over time

Babies born per year

01345

Decades

Markess by decade

The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Markess during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.

DecadeMaleFemaleTotal
2000s505

Origin

Meaning and history of Markess

The name Markess is a unique and intriguing one, with its origins rooted in the ancient Germanic languages. Derived from the root "mark," which means "boundary" or "frontier," this name has a rich history spanning several centuries and cultures.

In its earliest form, Markess was likely a variant of the Old High German name "Marcwart," which translates to "warden of the boundary." This name gained popularity during the medieval period, particularly among the nobility and warrior classes who were tasked with defending and guarding the frontiers of their respective territories.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Markess can be traced back to the 9th century, where it appeared in the annals of the Carolingian Empire. During this time, a nobleman named Markess von Wittelsbach was a prominent figure in the court of Emperor Charlemagne, serving as a trusted advisor and military commander.

In the 11th century, the name Markess gained significance in the Christian tradition, as it was borne by a renowned monk and scholar, Markess of Clairvaux. Born in 1090, Markess was a prominent figure in the Cistercian order and played a pivotal role in the propagation of monastic reform throughout Europe.

As the centuries passed, the name Markess continued to be associated with individuals of notable status and influence. One such figure was Markess von Richthofen, a German fighter pilot during World War I, who was born in 1892 and achieved legendary status as the "Red Baron" for his exceptional flying skills and numerous aerial victories.

In the realm of literature, the name Markess also found its place in the works of renowned authors. In the 19th century, the American writer Herman Melville immortalized a character named Markess Starbuck in his classic novel, Moby Dick, published in 1851. Starbuck was depicted as the level-headed first mate of the ill-fated whaling ship, Pequod.

Another notable bearer of the name Markess was the French artist and sculptor, Markess Rodin, born in 1840. Rodin's masterpieces, such as "The Thinker" and "The Kiss," have become iconic symbols of modern art and have left an indelible mark on the world of sculpture.

While the name Markess may not be as common as some other names, its rich history and unique character have ensured its enduring legacy throughout the ages. From noble warriors to scholarly monks, aviation legends to literary icons, the name Markess has been carried by individuals who have left an indelible mark on various facets of human endeavor.

People

Markess + last name combinations

How many people share a full name with Markess as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.

Related

Other names starting with M

Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.

FAQ

Markess: questions and answers

How many people in the U.S. are named Markess?

Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Markess going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.

Is Markess a common name?

We classify Markess as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.

When was Markess most popular?

The single biggest year for Markess was 2001, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Markess is about 25 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.

What does the SSA popularity chart show?

The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Markess in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.

Is Markess a male name?

Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Markess in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.

Is Markess still being used today?

Yes. The SSA still recorded Markess in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.

Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?

Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Markess can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.

Where does this data come from?

First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.

Does every first name have Census demographic data?

No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.

How many people are named Markess?

For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.

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Markess

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