Explore the Family Name Marchal
The meaning of Marchal
1. French and Walloon: status name or occupational name from Old French maresc(h)al ‘marshal’. The term is of ancient Germanic origin (from marah ‘horse, mare’ + scalc ‘servant’) and was originally applied to a man who looked after horses. In the Middle Ages it also came to be used on the one hand as an occupational name for a farrier, and on the other as a status name for an officer of state, in particular a member of a royal household with military responsibilities. Compare English Marshall and 2 below. 2. English: variant of Marshall. This form of the surname is rare in Britain and Ireland, and is found mainly in Glamorgan, Wales. Some characteristic forenames: French Gilles, Jacques, Maryse, Philippe, Pierre, Veronique.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Marchal in the United States?
Data from the Decennial U.S. Census details the popularity of the surname Marchal in the United States. In 2000, the surname was ranked 33,563 in terms of popularity, with 641 individuals bearing the name. However, in 2010, the rank dropped to 40,432 with only 541 individuals carrying the name, representing a decline of approximately 20.47% in popularity and a 15.6% decrease in count within this period. The proportion of individuals with the surname Marchal per 100k residents also reduced from 0.24 in 2000 to 0.18 in 2010, marking a 25% decrease.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #33,563 | #40,432 | -20.47% |
| Count | 641 | 541 | -15.6% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.24 | 0.18 | -25% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Marchal
In terms of ethnicity, data from the Decennial U.S. Census indicates some diversity among those with the surname Marchal. Overwhelmingly, the majority identifies as White, accounting for 95.16% in 2000 and slightly decreasing to 94.09% by 2010. The second largest ethnic identity is Black, which saw an increase from 2.34% in 2000 to 3.14% in 2010. The Hispanic identity experienced a slight uptick from 1.09% to 1.11%. Those identifying with two or more races grew modestly from 1.25% to 1.29%. There were no recorded instances of Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native identities associated with the Marchal surname during these years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.16% | 94.09% | -1.12% |
| Black | 2.34% | 3.14% | 34.19% |
| Two or More Races | 1.25% | 1.29% | 3.2% |
| Hispanic | 1.09% | 1.11% | 1.83% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |