Marquez
A Spanish surname derived from the given name Marco, which means "of Mars" or "warlike."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 124,934 Americans carry the last name Marquez. That puts it at #287 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 36.45 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,743 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Marquez surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
125K
1 in 2,743
Census rank
#287
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
36.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
108K
common in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 107,533 bearers of the surname Marquez in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 36.45 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 287th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Marquez, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 90.7%. The next largest groups are White (5.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Marquez
The surname Marquez is of Spanish origin, derived from the medieval personal name "Marcho," which was a Latinized form of the Germanic name "Mark." It is believed to have originated in the region of Castile in central Spain during the Middle Ages.
The name Marquez is thought to be a patronymic surname, meaning it was initially derived from the given name of the father or ancestor. In this case, it likely originated as a way to distinguish individuals by identifying them as the sons or descendants of someone named Marcho or Mark.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Marquez can be found in the "Becerro de las Behetrías de Castilla," a medieval document from the 14th century that listed landowners and their properties in the region of Castile. This document mentions individuals with the surname Marquez, indicating the name's presence in the area during that time.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Marquez. One of the most famous was Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1927-2014), a Colombian novelist, screenwriter, and journalist who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982. His works, such as "One Hundred Years of Solitude" and "Love in the Time of Cholera," are considered literary masterpieces.
Another prominent figure with the surname was Antonio Marquez Castellanos (1828-1889), a Mexican journalist, politician, and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Mexico from 1876 to 1879.
In the realm of sports, Antonio Marquez (1983-present) is a Mexican professional boxer who has held multiple world championships in the super flyweight and bantamweight divisions.
The name Marquez can also be found in historical records from other Spanish-speaking regions, such as the Philippines. One notable figure was Rafael Marquez (1888-1945), a Filipino politician and revolutionary who fought against Spanish colonial rule and later served as a member of the Philippine Senate.
Additionally, Pedro Marquez (1909-1959) was a Venezuelan composer and conductor known for his contributions to the development of Venezuelan classical music.
These examples illustrate the widespread presence of the surname Marquez throughout various regions and time periods, reflecting its Spanish origins and the historical significance of individuals who bore this name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Marquez
Among Census respondents with the surname Marquez, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 90.7%. The next largest groups are White (5.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Marquez bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Marquez surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino90.7%
- White5.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.8%
- Black or African American0.5%
- Two or more races0.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Marquez surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #357 | #287 | 19.6% |
| Count | 79,951 | 107,533 | 34.5% |
| Per 100K | 29.64 | 36.45 | 23.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Marquez bearers went from 79,951 to 107,533 (+34.5% change). The surname moved up 70 positions in the national ranking, going from #357 to #287.
FAQ
Marquez surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Marquez?
The surname Marquez holds position #287 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 124,934 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 36.45 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Marquez surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Marquez, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 90.7%. The next largest groups are White (5.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.