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

Marks, 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 Marks surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Marks in America

Marks is the 703rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Marks surname appeared 49,177 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 17 people would have the surname Marks.

We can also compare 2010 data for Marks 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 Marks

The surname Marks has its origins in England and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the personal name Mark, which itself comes from the Latin name Marcus, meaning "consecrated to the god Mars." The name Mark was popularized throughout Europe due to its association with the evangelist St. Mark.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Marks surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Marchus." This suggests that the surname was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066. Over time, the spelling evolved to include variations such as Markes, Markys, and Marks.

During the medieval period, the Marks surname was prevalent in various parts of England, particularly in counties like Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. This is evident from records of individuals bearing the name, such as Walter Markes, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1195.

The Marks surname has also been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One such figure is Thomas Marks (1617-1667), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Norfolk and wrote several religious works. Another notable bearer of the surname was Sir John Marks (1632-1700), an English merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1693.

In the realm of literature, the surname Marks is associated with the English poet and playwright Thomas Marks (1741-1809), known for his satirical works and comedies. Additionally, John Marks (1820-1888), an English artist and engraver, gained recognition for his landscape paintings and engravings depicting scenes from the English countryside.

Another notable figure with the Marks surname is Benjamin Marks (1830-1896), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the City of London School and the former headquarters of the Prudential Assurance Company.

While these are just a few examples, the Marks surname has a rich history that spans various fields and time periods, reflecting its enduring presence in England and its significance in the country's cultural and historical tapestry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Marks

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!