Marella
From Italian origins, denoting a small and light boat or skiff.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 788 Americans carry the last name Marella. That puts it at #33,410 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.23 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 434,967 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Marella surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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.
Bearers in the US
788
1 in 434,967
Census rank
#33,410
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
683
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 683 bearers of the surname Marella in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.23 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 33410th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Marella, the largest self-reported group is White at 72.2%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (24.0%) and Hispanic (2.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Marella
The surname Marella has its origins in Italy, tracing back to the medieval period around the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "marello," which means a small hammer or mallet used by stonemasons and builders. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to an occupation or trade associated with construction or masonry work.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Marella can be found in the historical records of the town of Vicenza, in the Veneto region of northern Italy. A document from the year 1238 mentions a certain "Martino Marella" who was a resident of the town at that time. This indicates that the surname was already in use in the area during the 13th century.
In the 14th century, the name Marella appeared in the records of the city of Verona, where a family with this surname was documented as landowners and prominent citizens. One notable individual from this family was Giovanni Marella, who served as a magistrate and city official in Verona in the late 1300s.
As the centuries passed, the name Marella spread to other regions of Italy, particularly in the northern parts of the country. In the 16th century, records show a Francesco Marella who was a renowned painter and artist from the city of Genoa, active during the Renaissance period.
Another noteworthy person bearing the name Marella was Girolamo Marella, born in 1592 in the town of Casale Monferrato, located in the Piedmont region. He was a renowned scholar and writer, known for his works on history, philosophy, and literature.
In the 18th century, a prominent figure with the surname Marella was Benedetto Marella, who was born in 1724 in the city of Milan. He was a celebrated architect and designer, responsible for the construction of several notable buildings and structures in the city during that time.
As the name Marella spread across Italy, it also gave rise to various place names and toponyms derived from it. For instance, there is a small town called Marello in the province of Cuneo, located in the Piedmont region, which likely originated from this surname.
While the Marella surname has its roots firmly planted in Italian history and culture, it has also been adopted and carried by families in other parts of the world, particularly in areas with strong Italian immigrant communities. However, the earliest and most significant historical references to this surname can be traced back to its origins in the medieval and Renaissance periods of Italy.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Marella
Among Census respondents with the surname Marella, the largest self-reported group is White at 72.2%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (24.0%) and Hispanic (2.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Marella bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Marella surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White72.2%
- Asian and Pacific Islander24.0%
- Hispanic or Latino2.3%
- Two or more races1.2%
- Unknown or suppressed0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Marella surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #37,480 | #33,410 | 10.9% |
| Count | 559 | 683 | 22.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.21 | 0.23 | 9.5% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Marella bearers went from 559 to 683 (+22.2% change). The surname moved up 4,070 positions in the national ranking, going from #37,480 to #33,410.
FAQ
Marella surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Marella?
The surname Marella holds position #33,410 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 788 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.23 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Marella surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Marella, the largest self-reported group is White at 72.2%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (24.0%) and Hispanic (2.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.