2000
#11,971
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,394
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.89
Rare Last name
Markland
A locational surname referring to someone from a border region or boundary land.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,478 Americans carry the last name Markland. That puts it at #13,468 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.72 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 138,319 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Markland 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 Markland with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
2.5K
1 in 138,319
Census rank
#13,468
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,161 bearers of the surname Markland in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.72 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 13468th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Markland, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.6%. The next largest groups are Black (12.6%) and Hispanic (5.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Markland
The surname Markland originated in England during the late medieval period, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "mearc" meaning boundary or border, and "land" referring to a region or territory. This etymology suggests that the name may have been initially borne by individuals who lived in or owned lands near the borders or boundaries of a particular area.
One of the earliest known references to the Markland surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire, a census-like record compiled in 1273. This document mentions a certain William Markland, who was likely one of the first individuals to bear this surname.
In the 14th century, records show the presence of the Markland family in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire. The Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1379, list a Robert de Markland among the landowners and taxpayers of the region.
During the Tudor period, the Markland surname gained more prominence, with several notable individuals bearing this name. One such figure was John Markland, a poet and playwright born in the late 15th century, whose works were highly regarded in his time.
In the 17th century, the Markland family had established roots in Lancashire, where they owned lands and estates. One of the most prominent members of this lineage was Robert Markland (1620-1697), a wealthy landowner and magistrate who played an active role in local affairs.
Another notable figure with the Markland surname was Thomas Markland (1619-1694), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Archdeacon of York. He was widely recognized for his contributions to biblical studies and his extensive knowledge of ancient languages.
As the Markland family continued to spread across different regions of England, variations in the spelling of the surname emerged, such as Markeland, Marklen, and Marklin. These variations likely resulted from local dialects, scribal errors, or personal preferences.
Throughout its long history, the Markland surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, scholars, clergy, and artists. While the name may have originated from humble beginnings, it has left a lasting legacy in the annals of English history and culture.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Markland
Among Census respondents with the surname Markland, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.6%. The next largest groups are Black (12.6%) and Hispanic (5.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Markland 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 Markland surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White77.6% · 1,676
- Black or African American12.6% · 273
- Hispanic or Latino5.1% · 111
- Two or more races3.5% · 75
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 18
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4% · 8
Timeline
Historical Census data for Markland
Markland 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
#11,179
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,829
+435 bearers (+18.2%)
Per 100,000 0.96
Rank movement Up 792 places
2020
#13,468
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,161
-668 bearers (-23.6%)
Per 100,000 0.72
Rank movement Down 2,289 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #11,971 | 2,394 | 0.89 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #11,179 | 2,829 | 0.96 | +435 bearers (+18.2%) | Up 792 places |
| 2020 | #13,468 | 2,161 | 0.72 | -668 bearers (-23.6%) | Down 2,289 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 Markland 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 | #11,179 | #13,468 | -20.5% |
| Count | 2,829 | 2,161 | -23.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.96 | 0.72 | -24.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Markland bearers went from 2,829 to 2,161 (-23.6% change). The surname moved down 2,289 positions in the national ranking, going from #11,179 to #13,468.
FAQ
Markland surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Markland?
Name Census estimates that about 2,478 living Americans carry the surname Markland. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 138,319 residents.
How common is Markland?
Markland ranks #13,468 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.72 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,161 people with the surname Markland. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,478), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.72 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.72 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Markland.
Has Markland become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Markland went from 2,829 recorded bearers to 2,161. That is a decrease of 668 (-23.6%). In the national ranking it fell from #11,179 to #13,468.
What does the Census say about the background of Markland?
Among Census respondents with the surname Markland, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.6%. The next largest groups are Black (12.6%) and Hispanic (5.1%). 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 Markland in the 2020 Census, accounting for 77.6% (1,676 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Markland appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (77.6%), Black (12.6%), Hispanic (5.1%). 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 Markland (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 Markland mean?
A locational surname referring to someone from a border region or boundary land. 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 Markland (0.72 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 people share the surname Markland?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.