Explore the Family Name Marais
The meaning of Marais
1. French: habitational name from any of various minor places in northern France named Marais, from Old French mareis ‘marsh’. Alternatively, the name may simply have been topographic. This surname is also established in South Africa. Compare Demarais. 2. Altered form of French Desmarais, a cognate of 1 above. History: The South African bearers of the surname Marais (see 1 above) trace their origin to Charles Marais, a Huguenot from France, who arrived with his wife and children in the Dutch Cape Colony via the Netherlands in 1688. He is recognized as a French Huguenot ancestor by the Huguenot Society of South Africa.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Marais in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Marais saw a significant increase in its popularity between 2000 and 2010. The rank of the surname moved up from 96918 in 2000 to 68345 in 2010, indicating an upward shift by 29.48%. The number of people bearing this surname also rose from 174 individuals in 2000 to 288 individuals in 2010, an impressive growth of 65.52%. In terms of proportion per 100,000 people, the presence of this surname escalated by 66.67%, going from 0.06 to 0.1.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #96,918 | #68,345 | 29.48% |
| Count | 174 | 288 | 65.52% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.06 | 0.1 | 66.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Marais
When looking at the ethnic identity associated with the surname Marais, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that it is predominantly linked to White ethnicity. Between 2000 and 2010, the percentage of White individuals with this surname increased slightly from 88.51% to 89.58%. The data also shows a notable increase in the Black population carrying this surname, moving from 3.45% to 4.17%. However, there was a remarkable decrease in the Hispanic percentage from 5.75% to 2.43%. The proportion of people identifying as two or more races appeared for the first time in 2010, constituting 3.13% of people with the Marais surname. No individuals with this surname identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 88.51% | 89.58% | 1.21% |
| Black | 3.45% | 4.17% | 20.87% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 3.13% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 5.75% | 2.43% | -57.74% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |