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

Marques, 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 Marques surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Marques in America

Marques is the 4716th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Marques surname appeared 7,520 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Marques.

We can also compare 2010 data for Marques 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 Marques

The surname Marques has its origins in Portugal, with records of the name dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Portuguese word "marquês," which means "marquis" or "lord of the march." The name likely originated from a title bestowed upon landowners or noblemen who governed border territories or marches.

In medieval Portugal, the Marques family held significant power and influence, particularly in the regions near the Spanish border. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the "Livro Velho de Linhagens" (Old Book of Lineages), a 14th-century Portuguese manuscript detailing the genealogies of noble families.

The Marques surname was also associated with the town of Marques, located in the northern region of Portugal. This place name is believed to have contributed to the widespread use of the surname among families residing in or near that area.

One notable figure in history bearing the Marques surname was Pedro Álvares Marques, a Portuguese explorer born around 1480. He was a prominent figure in the Age of Discovery, leading expeditions to Brazil and the coast of Africa in the early 16th century.

Another prominent individual was João Marques de Almeida, a 17th-century Portuguese military leader and colonial administrator. He served as the fourth viceroy of Portuguese India from 1623 to 1628 and played a significant role in the expansion of Portuguese influence in the region.

In the 18th century, José Marques da Silva Leitão, born in 1736, was a renowned Portuguese architect and engineer. He designed several notable buildings, including the iconic Clérigos Tower in Porto, which is considered a masterpiece of Baroque architecture.

Moving to the 19th century, Eugénio dos Santos Marques, born in 1834, was a prominent Portuguese writer and journalist. He was a staunch advocate for social reforms and played a crucial role in the development of Portuguese literature during the Romantic period.

Lastly, in the 20th century, Fernando Marques da Costa, born in 1913, was a celebrated Portuguese architect and urban planner. He is best known for his contributions to the modernist architectural movement in Portugal and his influential urban planning projects in Lisbon.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who carried the Marques surname throughout history, reflecting the name's deep roots and significance in Portuguese culture and society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Marques

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

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

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

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