2000
#129,619
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Marnik
An occupational surname derived from the Polish word "marnik," meaning a sailor or seaman.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 139 Americans carry the last name Marnik. That puts it at #141,309 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,465,859 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Marnik 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.
Bearers in the US
139
1 in 2,465,859
Census rank
#141,309
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
121
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 121 bearers of the surname Marnik in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 141309th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Marnik, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Marnik
The surname MARNIK is believed to have originated in Slovenia and Croatia during the late medieval period, with the earliest known records dating back to the 14th century. It is derived from the Slavic word "marnik," which means "diligent" or "hard-working." This suggests that the name was initially given to individuals who were known for their industrious nature.
One of the earliest mentions of the MARNIK surname can be found in a 1387 document from the town of Celje, in present-day Slovenia, which refers to a certain "Jurij Marnik." This record provides valuable insight into the name's regional roots and its use during that time period.
In the 16th century, the MARNIK surname appears in various historical records from the Croatian region of Istria, which was then part of the Venetian Republic. This indicates that the name had spread across the broader Slavic region and had become established in different areas.
One notable figure in the history of the MARNIK surname is Matija Marnik, a Croatian scholar and linguist who lived from 1815 to 1892. He played a significant role in the development of the Croatian language and is known for his contributions to the standardization of Croatian orthography.
Another prominent individual was Ivan Marnik, a Slovenian politician and lawyer who served as the Mayor of Ljubljana in the early 20th century. He was born in 1867 and played a crucial role in the city's development during his tenure.
In the realm of literature, Janko Marnik (1869-1936) was a notable Slovenian poet and playwright. His works were deeply influenced by the Romantic movement and helped shape the literary landscape of his time.
During the 19th century, the MARNIK surname also appeared in historical records from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, particularly in the regions of present-day Slovenia and Croatia. This further solidifies the name's deep-rooted connections to the Slavic cultural and linguistic heritage.
Another noteworthy figure was Anton Marnik (1896-1975), a Croatian sculptor and artist who gained recognition for his monumental works and contributions to the artistic landscape of the former Yugoslavia.
Throughout its history, the MARNIK surname has undergone various spelling variations, such as Marnik, Marnikj, and Marniković, reflecting the regional linguistic differences and the evolution of orthographic conventions over time.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Marnik
Among Census respondents with the surname Marnik, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Marnik 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 Marnik surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.7% · 117
- Hispanic or Latino3.3% · 4
Timeline
Historical Census data for Marnik
Marnik 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
#129,047
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 132
+11 bearers (+9.1%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 572 places
2020
#141,309
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
-11 bearers (-8.3%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 12,262 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #129,619 | 121 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #129,047 | 132 | 0.04 | +11 bearers (+9.1%) | Up 572 places |
| 2020 | #141,309 | 121 | 0.04 | -11 bearers (-8.3%) | Down 12,262 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 Marnik 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 | #129,047 | #141,309 | -9.5% |
| Count | 132 | 121 | -8.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 1.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Marnik bearers went from 132 to 121 (-8.3% change). The surname moved down 12,262 positions in the national ranking, going from #129,047 to #141,309.
FAQ
Marnik surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Marnik?
Name Census estimates that about 139 living Americans carry the surname Marnik. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,465,859 residents.
How common is Marnik?
Marnik ranks #141,309 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 121 people with the surname Marnik. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (139), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Marnik.
Has Marnik become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Marnik went from 132 recorded bearers to 121. That is a decrease of 11 (-8.3%). In the national ranking it fell from #129,047 to #141,309.
What does the Census say about the background of Marnik?
Among Census respondents with the surname Marnik, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.3%). 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 Marnik in the 2020 Census, accounting for 96.7% (117 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Marnik appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (96.7%), Hispanic (3.3%). 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 Marnik (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 Marnik mean?
An occupational surname derived from the Polish word "marnik," meaning a sailor or seaman. 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 Marnik (0.04 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 Marnik?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.