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

Marlowe, 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 Marlowe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Marlowe in America

Marlowe is the 5325th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Marlowe surname appeared 6,543 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Marlowe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Marlowe 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 Marlowe

The surname MARLOWE is of English origin and dates back to the late medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the town of Marlowe in Buckinghamshire. The name is thought to have originated from the Old English words "mere" meaning a lake or pond, and "hlaw" meaning a hill or mound, thus suggesting a settlement near a hill by a lake.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Buckinghamshire from the year 1230, where it appears as "de Merlawe". Similar spellings such as "Merlow" and "Merlawe" were also common in early records.

The MARLOWE surname is not found in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, indicating that it likely emerged after the Norman Conquest of England. However, it is mentioned in various medieval charters and rolls, suggesting its presence among the English gentry and landowners of the time.

One of the most renowned individuals with the MARLOWE surname was Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593), an English playwright, poet, and translator of the Elizabethan era. He is widely considered one of the greatest dramatists of his time, with works such as "The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus" and "Tamburlaine the Great".

Another notable figure was John Marlowe (1619-1679), an English politician and military commander who served as a Parliamentarian during the English Civil War. He was a prominent figure in the Commonwealth of England and played a significant role in the events leading up to the Restoration of the monarchy.

In the 18th century, Samuel Marlowe (1710-1789) was a noted English architect who designed several churches and country houses in the Palladian style. His most famous work is the Shugborough Estate in Staffordshire, which is considered a masterpiece of Georgian architecture.

The MARLOWE name is also associated with William Marlowe (1796-1867), a British naval officer and explorer who conducted several expeditions to the Arctic regions in the mid-19th century. He played a crucial role in mapping and charting the Northwest Passage, a long-sought maritime route through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.

In the literary world, Julia Marlowe (1865-1950) was an acclaimed American actress who gained fame for her performances in various Shakespeare plays. She toured extensively and was celebrated for her interpretations of characters such as Juliet, Ophelia, and Portia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Marlowe

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

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

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

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