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Marsden Family History

Marsden Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from any of the places in Lancashire and Yorkshire so named from Old English mercels ‘boundary’ (see Mark ) + denu ‘valley’ (see Dean).

It refers to a geographical location characterized by its natural features.

The term highlights the significance of valleys as natural boundaries in the landscape.

This name is deeply rooted in the historical and linguistic traditions of the regions.

Overall, it reflects the relationship between name, place, and physical geography.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Marsden family from?

You can see how Marsden families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Marsden family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Marsden families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 5,700 Marsden families living in Lancashire. This was about 43% of all the recorded Marsden's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Marsden families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Marsden surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Marsden ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Marsden. 9% of Marsden men worked as a General Labourer and 64% of Marsden women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Marsden were Retired and Housewife.

View Census Data for Marsden | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    9%
  • Cotton Weaver
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Retired
    2%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    64%
  • Cotton Weaver
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Marsden family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 227,000 census records available for the last name Marsden. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Marsden census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Marsden

Passenger Lists

There are 21,000 immigration records available for the last name Marsden. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Marsden immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 16,000 military records available for the last name Marsden. For the veterans among your Marsden ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Marsden military records

You've only scratched the surface of Marsden family history

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What is the average Marsden lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Marsden life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 1957. The average life expectancy for Marsden in 1949 was 52, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Marsden

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Marsden ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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