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

Marvel, 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 Marvel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Marvel in America

Marvel is the 8523rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Marvel surname appeared 3,862 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Marvel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Marvel 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 Marvel

The surname Marvel has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "merveille," meaning "wonder" or "marvel." This name likely referred to someone who performed marvels or wonders, possibly a street performer or entertainer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Marvel can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is spelled "Merveille." This document was a census-like record of landowners and their holdings in medieval England.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Marveyle" and "Marvell," in various records, including the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379. This suggests that the name had spread across different regions of England during this time.

The Marvel surname can also be traced back to place names in England, such as the village of Marvell in Derbyshire. It is possible that some individuals with the surname Marvel originated from or were associated with this location.

Among the notable individuals who carried the surname Marvel throughout history are:

1. Andrew Marvel (1621-1678), an English metaphysical poet, satirist, and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the Commonwealth period.

2. John Marvel (c. 1595-1670), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Portraiture of a Christian Gentleman."

3. Ike Marvel (1801-1889), an American author and essayist who wrote under the pen name "Donald G. Mitchell." He is best known for his book "Reveries of a Bachelor."

4. Thomas Marvel (1760-1826), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and rose to the rank of Rear Admiral.

5. Elizabeth Marvel (born 1969), an American actress known for her roles in films such as "True Grit" (2010) and "The District Attorney's Wife" (2009).

While the Marvel surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, carried by individuals and families who emigrated from Britain over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Marvel

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

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

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

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