Marsaw last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Marsaw

A surname possibly derived from a place name or geographical location.

Marsaw, 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 Marsaw surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Marsaw in America

Marsaw is the 87663rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Marsaw surname appeared 212 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Marsaw.

We can also compare 2010 data for Marsaw 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 87663 98770 -11.92%
Count 212 170 21.99%
Proportion per 100k 0.07 0.06 15.38%

The history of the last name Marsaw

The surname Marsaw has its origins in the northern regions of England, where it first emerged during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from a combination of the Old English words "mere," meaning "marsh" or "fen," and "saetern," which refers to a salt-making establishment or a place where salt was produced.

One of the earliest known records of the name Marsaw can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire, dated around 1190, where it appears as "Mersauterne." This ancient spelling suggests a strong connection to the place name it originated from, likely referring to a marshland area or a settlement near a salt-making facility.

During the 13th century, the name Marsaw appeared in various records across northern England, including the Chartulary of Furness Abbey, where it was recorded as "Mersaghter." This variation highlights the fluidity of spelling practices during that time, as names were often adapted based on regional dialects and scribes' interpretations.

In the 14th century, the Marsaw family gained prominence in the Yorkshire region, with several members holding positions of influence within local communities. Notably, John Marsaw (born c. 1325) was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the Yorkshire Gentry during the reign of Edward III.

Another notable figure bearing the Marsaw name was Sir Thomas Marsaw (c. 1415-1490), a renowned military commander who fought in the Wars of the Roses. His valor and leadership on the battlefield earned him recognition from King Henry VI, who granted him lands and titles for his service.

As the Marsaw family dispersed throughout England over the centuries, various spelling variations emerged, such as Marsawe, Marsauwe, and Marsay. These variations often reflected regional dialects and the influence of Norman scribes who transcribed the name differently.

In the 16th century, the Marsaw name appeared in the records of the College of Arms, where it was associated with a coat of arms bearing the symbol of a saltire (a diagonal cross), perhaps a nod to the family's historical connection to salt-making establishments.

Among the notable individuals bearing the Marsaw surname in later years was Sir William Marsaw (1625-1692), a wealthy merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of education and infrastructure in his hometown of Leeds.

Throughout its long history, the surname Marsaw has maintained a strong presence in various parts of England, particularly in the northern regions where it originated. The name's evolution and variations reflect the rich tapestry of English history, language, and cultural influences that have shaped the country over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Marsaw

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

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 Marsaw was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 32.08% 68
Non-Hispanic Black Only 63.68% 135
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 2.83% 6
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Marsaw has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 32.08% 39.41% -20.51%
Black 63.68% 58.24% 8.92%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% 0.00% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 2.83% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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"Marsaw last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 25, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/marsaw-surname-popularity/.

"Marsaw last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/marsaw-surname-popularity/. Accessed 25 November, 2024

Marsaw last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/marsaw-surname-popularity/.

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