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

Marra, 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 Marra surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Marra in America

Marra is the 5719th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Marra surname appeared 6,065 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 Marra.

We can also compare 2010 data for Marra 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 Marra

The surname Marra is of Italian origin, with its roots traced back to the Italian regions of Calabria and Sicily. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word 'marra,' which means a type of hoe or mattock, a tool used for digging and cultivating the soil. This connection suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname, referring to individuals who worked as farmers or agricultural laborers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Marra surname can be found in the 'Codice Diplomatico Barese,' a collection of historical documents from the city of Bari in southern Italy, dating back to the 11th century. This document mentions individuals with the surname Marra, indicating the name's presence in the region during the medieval period.

In the 14th century, the Marra family played a significant role in the history of Naples, with members holding influential positions within the royal court. Notably, Muzio Marra served as the Grand Chancellor of the Kingdom of Naples under King Robert of Anjou in the early 1300s.

Another prominent figure bearing the Marra surname was Gian Battista Marra, an Italian astronomer and mathematician born in Genoa in 1537. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and was responsible for mapping the positions of numerous stars and celestial bodies.

During the Renaissance period, the Marra family produced several notable artists and architects. One such figure was Francesco Marra, a 16th-century painter and architect from Naples, known for his works in churches and palaces throughout the city.

In the literary realm, Giacomo Marra, born in Naples in 1619, was a renowned poet and playwright. His works, including tragedies and comedies, were widely celebrated during the Baroque period in Italy.

Moving forward in time, Giuseppe Marra, born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1796, was a prominent Italian politician and statesman. He served as the Minister of Public Works and later as the Minister of the Interior during the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in the mid-19th century.

While the Marra surname has its roots in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by Italian immigrants and their descendants. However, its rich history and cultural significance remain deeply rooted in the Italian regions where it originated.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Marra

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

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

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

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