Find out how popular the last name Mara is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Mara.

Mara, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Mara surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mara in America

Mara is the 10790th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mara surname appeared 2,956 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Mara.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mara to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Mara

The surname MARA is believed to have originated in Italy, with its roots tracing back to ancient Rome. The name is derived from the Latin word 'mara,' which means 'bitter' or 'sea.' It was initially used as a nickname or a descriptive term for someone with a bitter or salty personality or someone who lived near the sea.

During the Middle Ages, the name MARA began to appear in various Italian records and documents. One of the earliest known references can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Cavensis, a collection of medieval charters and diplomas from the Monastery of Cava in southern Italy, dating back to the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name MARA was mentioned in the Libro Vecchio di Firenze, an ancient record book of the city of Florence, which documented the names of prominent citizens and families. One notable individual from this period was Mara Agolanti (c. 1220-1290), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Florence.

As the name spread throughout Italy, it also took on various regional spellings and variations, such as Marra, Marri, and Marras. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and linguistic traditions.

In the 15th century, the name MARA gained further prominence with the birth of Mara Sforza (1451-1499), a member of the powerful Sforza dynasty that ruled Milan. She was renowned for her beauty and intelligence and played a significant role in the political and cultural life of Renaissance Italy.

Another notable bearer of the MARA surname was Giacomo Mara (1670-1738), an Italian painter and architect from Piedmont. He was renowned for his work on several churches and palaces in Turin and other parts of northern Italy.

Throughout the centuries, the MARA surname has spread beyond Italy to other parts of Europe and the world, carried by Italian immigrants and their descendants. Some notable individuals with this surname include Dora Mara (1934-2015), a Brazilian actress and singer, and Alfredo Mara (1910-1991), an Italian-American boxer and actor.

While the MARA surname may have evolved and taken on different meanings and connotations over time, its Italian roots and rich history remain an integral part of its identity, reflecting the diverse cultural heritage and traditions of the Italian peninsula.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mara

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Mara.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Mara was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Mara has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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