Marra
An Italian occupational surname referring to someone who worked with wood, such as a carpenter or woodcutter.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 7,061 Americans carry the last name Marra. That puts it at #5,719 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 48,542 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Marra 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
7.1K
1 in 48,542
Census rank
#5,719
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
6.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 6,065 bearers of the surname Marra in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 5719th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Marra, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.4%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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the earliest recorded instances of the Marra surname can be found in the 'Codice Diplomatico Barese,' a collection of historical documents from the city of Bari in southern Italy, dating back to the 11th century.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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Marra
Among Census respondents with the surname Marra, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.4%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Marra 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 Marra surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.8%
- Hispanic or Latino5.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.2%
- Two or more races0.7%
- Black or African American0.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Marra 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 | #5,740 | #5,719 | 0.4% |
| Count | 5,526 | 6,065 | 9.8% |
| Per 100K | 2.05 | 2.06 | 0.5% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Marra bearers went from 5,526 to 6,065 (+9.8% change). The surname moved up 21 positions in the national ranking, going from #5,740 to #5,719.
FAQ
Marra surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Marra?
The surname Marra holds position #5,719 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 7,061 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 2.06 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Marra surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Marra, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.4%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.2%). 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.