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

Marka, 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 Marka surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Marka in America

Marka is the 132259th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Marka surname appeared 118 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Marka.

The history of the last name Marka

The surname Marka has its origins in Eastern Europe, particularly in the regions that are now modern-day Poland and Slovakia. The earliest records suggest the name came into use during the medieval period, around the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old Slavic word "Marka," which means "boundary" or "border." This suggests that the original bearers of the name might have been people living near the boundaries of urban areas or territories.

The region of Lesser Poland (Małopolska) is one of the initial areas where the surname Marka was recorded. In old Polish records, similar spellings such as "Marko" or "Marka" have been found in documents dating back to the 14th century. For instance, an individual named Stanislaus Marka is mentioned in a 1375 land grant document found in the State Archives of Kraków, indicating that the surname had established its roots by that time.

Historical references to the surname Marka appear in various medieval manuscripts. The Codex Diplomaticus Poloniae, a collection of medieval documents from Poland, includes several mentions of individuals with the surname in the 15th century. One notable figure is Jan de Marka, who was a scribe and landowner recorded in 1428. Such individuals often held modestly influential positions within their communities, which allowed their names to be documented.

Among the earliest clearly documented examples of the surname is that of Michal Marka, who was born in 1585 and became a prominent merchant in the town of Nowy Targ. His business dealings spanned various regions, and his name appeared frequently in trade records throughout the late 1500s and early 1600s. His family continued to be influential in local commercial circles for several generations.

Beyond Poland, the surname Marka also has roots in Slovakia, where it appears as early as the 15th century. A record from 1453 mentions a Ladislav Marka who was a member of a local council in Banská Bystrica, known for its mining activities. The name might have signified the family's connection to the mining industry, which was crucial to the local economy during that period.

Famous individuals with the surname Marka include Ferenc Marka, a Hungarian astronomer born in 1845, who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics. Another eminent person was Maria Marka, a Polish educator born in 1867, who was a pivotal figure in the promotion of women's education in Kraków. In recent history, Ivan Marka, born in 1920, was a noted Slovak writer and poet whose works garnered national acclaim during the mid-20th century.

Each instance of the surname Marka in historical records points to the geographical and cultural migrations and adaptations of families bearing this name. Although the surname is more common in specific regions, its bearers have contributed significantly to their communities, leaving an indelible mark on the historical and cultural landscapes of their respective areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Marka

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Marka 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.

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 Marka was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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