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

Marsh, 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 Marsh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Marsh in America

Marsh is the 537th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Marsh surname appeared 62,304 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 21 people would have the surname Marsh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Marsh 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 Marsh

The surname Marsh originates from England, and it is derived from the Old English word "mersc," which means "marsh" or "fen." This name emerged as a topographic surname, given to individuals who lived near marshy or fenny areas.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Marsh can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Mersc" and "Mersche." These entries indicate that the name was already established in various parts of England during the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Marsh was Robert de la Mershe, who lived in Gloucestershire, England, in the late 12th century. Another early bearer of the name was William atte Mersh, recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327.

The name Marsh is also connected to various place names in England, such as Marsh Green in Hertfordshire, Marsh Gibbon in Buckinghamshire, and Marsh Baldon in Oxfordshire. These place names likely influenced the adoption of the surname by families residing in those areas.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Marsh. One of the most prominent was Narcissus Marsh (1638-1713), an influential Anglican clergyman who served as the Archbishop of Armagh and the Primate of All Ireland from 1702 until his death.

Another notable figure was George Perkins Marsh (1801-1882), an American diplomat, scholar, and one of the earliest proponents of environmental conservation. His influential work, "Man and Nature," published in 1864, is considered a seminal text in the field of environmental studies.

Reginald Marsh (1898-1954) was an American painter and printmaker known for his depictions of urban life in New York City during the Great Depression era. His works capture the vibrant energy and diversity of the city's streets and inhabitants.

Sir Edward Marsh (1872-1953) was a British civil servant, private secretary to Winston Churchill, and a patron of the arts. He played a significant role in promoting and supporting writers and artists, including the Bloomsbury Group.

Ngaio Marsh (1895-1982) was a renowned New Zealand crime writer, best known for her detective fiction featuring Inspector Roderick Alleyn. She wrote 32 novels and numerous short stories and is considered one of the "Queens of Crime" alongside Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Marsh

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

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

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

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