2000
#4,974
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 6,483
First available Census row
Per 100,000 2.40
Rare Last name
Marchese
An aristocratic Italian surname referring to a marquis, derived from the Italian word "marchese" meaning "marquis."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 6,974 Americans carry the last name Marchese. That puts it at #5,521 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 49,147 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Marchese surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Marchese with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
7.0K
1 in 49,147
Census rank
#5,521
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
6.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 6,082 bearers of the surname Marchese in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 5521st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Marchese, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.1%) and Two or More Races (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Marchese
The surname Marchese has its roots in the Italian language and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It originated from the Italian word "marchese," which means "marquis" or "marquess," a noble title denoting a high-ranking nobleman who ruled over a specific territory called a march or marquisate.
During the Middle Ages, the title of marchese was bestowed upon those who held significant power and authority in the regions bordering other territories or kingdoms. These individuals were entrusted with defending and governing the border areas, serving as a buffer between rival powers.
The earliest known reference to the surname Marchese can be found in historical records from the 11th century in various parts of Italy, particularly in regions like Tuscany, Lombardy, and Piedmont. The name was initially associated with noble families who held the title of marchese or had close ties to those holding the title.
In the 13th century, the surname Marchese appeared in the renowned Codice Diplomatico della Lombardia, a collection of historical documents from the region of Lombardy. This record mentions several individuals bearing the surname, suggesting its widespread use among the nobility during that time.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Marchese was Guglielmo Marchese, a nobleman from Genoa who lived in the 12th century. He was known for his involvement in the city's maritime affairs and played a crucial role in the expansion of Genoa's naval power in the Mediterranean.
Another notable figure was Galeazzo Marchese, born in 1424 in Milan, who served as a military commander and diplomat under the Sforza dynasty. He was renowned for his strategic prowess and played a pivotal role in several battles during the Italian Wars of the 15th century.
In the 16th century, the Marchese family from Florence gained prominence, with members such as Vincenzo Marchese (1522-1591), a renowned Renaissance architect and sculptor. His works, including the Palazzo Marchese in Florence, exemplified the artistic and architectural brilliance of the era.
The surname Marchese also had a presence in the arts and literature, with the poet and playwright Antonio Marchese (1560-1637) from Naples, whose works were widely celebrated during the Baroque period.
Throughout the centuries, the name Marchese has been found in various forms and spellings, such as Marchesi, Marchesini, and Marchesani, reflecting regional variations and linguistic influences. Additionally, several place names in Italy, such as Marchese di Grottole and Marchese di Monferrato, were derived from the title and surname.
While the surname Marchese is no longer exclusively associated with nobility, it remains a testament to the rich history and cultural heritage of Italy, carrying the legacy of those who once held significant power and influence in the medieval and Renaissance periods.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Marchese
Among Census respondents with the surname Marchese, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.1%) and Two or More Races (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Marchese bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Marchese surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.0% · 5,471
- Hispanic or Latino7.1% · 430
- Two or more races1.9% · 116
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 36
- Black or African American0.4% · 23
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1% · 6
Timeline
Historical Census data for Marchese
Marchese appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#5,229
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 6,670
+187 bearers (+2.9%)
Per 100,000 2.26
Rank movement Down 255 places
2020
#5,521
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 6,082
-588 bearers (-8.8%)
Per 100,000 2.03
Rank movement Down 292 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #4,974 | 6,483 | 2.40 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #5,229 | 6,670 | 2.26 | +187 bearers (+2.9%) | Down 255 places |
| 2020 | #5,521 | 6,082 | 2.03 | -588 bearers (-8.8%) | Down 292 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Marchese surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,229 | #5,521 | -5.6% |
| Count | 6,670 | 6,082 | -8.8% |
| Per 100K | 2.26 | 2.03 | -10.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Marchese bearers went from 6,670 to 6,082 (-8.8% change). The surname moved down 292 positions in the national ranking, going from #5,229 to #5,521.
FAQ
Marchese surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Marchese?
Name Census estimates that about 6,974 living Americans carry the surname Marchese. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 49,147 residents.
How common is Marchese?
Marchese ranks #5,521 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 2.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 2 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 6,082 people with the surname Marchese. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (6,974), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 2.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 2.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 2 of them to have the surname Marchese.
Has Marchese become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Marchese went from 6,670 recorded bearers to 6,082. That is a decrease of 588 (-8.8%). In the national ranking it fell from #5,229 to #5,521.
What does the Census say about the background of Marchese?
Among Census respondents with the surname Marchese, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.1%) and Two or More Races (1.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Marchese in the 2020 Census, accounting for 90.0% (5,471 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Marchese appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (90.0%), Hispanic (7.1%), Two or More Races (1.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Marchese (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Marchese mean?
An aristocratic Italian surname referring to a marquis, derived from the Italian word "marchese" meaning "marquis." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Marchese (2.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Marchese?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.