Surname Marquis - Meaning and Origin

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B. Marquis

Marquis: What does the surname Marquis mean?

The surname Marquis is of French origin, derived from a title of nobility. Historically, a "marquis" was a nobleman of high rank, specifically ranking below a duke and above a count in the hierarchy of feudal times. The title was originally granted to nobles who governed border provinces, known as "marches", so the term itself is believed to mean "ruler of the frontier". Therefore, the surname Marquis may have initially been a nickname or an occupational name for someone who worked in the household of a marquis. It can also be a locational name, given to individuals dwelling in areas where the rule of a marquis was prominent. Over time, it evolved into a surname and has been passed down through generations. Like many surnames, there may be different branches of the Marquis family, each with its own variations and history. However, the overall meaning of the name remains connected to nobility and leadership positions.

Marquis: Where does the name Marquis come from?

The surname Marquis is of French origin, derived from the title of nobility 'marquis'. This title was used for a nobleman of high rank, ranking below a duke and above a count. The term 'marquis' was originally used to denote a governor of border areas during the Middle Ages, from the Old French word 'marche', meaning 'border'.

The surname Marquis may also have been a nickname for someone who worked in the household of a marquis or played the part of a marquis in a medieval pageant. It could also be a status name for a freed slave who had been employed as a servant in a marquis's household.

The surname Marquis is most common in France, but can also be found in the United States, Canada and other parts of the world where French expatriates or their descendants reside. It is generally considered relatively rare as a last name. Some variations of the surname include Marquise, Markee, and Marques.

Variations of the surname Marquis

The surname Marquis has various variants and spellings from different cultures and regions. These can include Marquise, Marques, Marquess, Marquee, Marquiss, Marchese, Marquese, Markis, Markes, Markess, Marqez, Markuez, and Marquiz. However, the pronunciation and meaning may vary slightly among these different versions.

The name originated from the term for a nobleman or a military commander in medieval Europe, specifically in France, Spain, Italy, and England. In Spain, the surname is often written as Marques, while in Italy, it's called Marchese, and in England, it's Marquess.

Further, the surname Marquis might be anglicized or modernized versions of these original names, having been changed over time due to immigration and localization.

As for surnames of the same origin, names denoting nobility or social rank in their respective languages often belong to this category. For instance, Duke, Earl, Viscount, and Baron are of the same origin as they all indicate a noble rank.

Remember that spelling variations could be due to differences in regional dialects, phonetic spelling from immigration records, and translations between languages.

Famous people with the name Marquis

• Richard Marquis, glass artist.
• Larry Marquis, American film editor.
• John Marquis, footballer.
• Marguerite de Valois, aka Marguerite de Navarre, French Princess also known as Marquise de Valois.
• Scott Marquis, former Major League Baseball player.
• Robert Marquis, former leader of the Canadian Liberal party.
• Paul Marquis, cyclist and Olympic medalist.
• Richard Marquis, songwriter and music producer.
• Charles Marquis Warren, film and television writer, director, and producer.
• Pauline Marquis, former Canadian ice dancer.
• Sam Marquis, classical vocalist and actor.
• Pierre de La Porte du Theil, Comte de La Marqius, French general and Marshal of France.
• Jean-Baptiste Antoine Marquis de Barbé-Marbois, French politician and historian.
• Ahmet Ertegun, Turkish-American record executive, songwriter, film producer and co-founder of Atlantic Records.
• Robert Merle de la Garde de La Marquis, French author and historian.

Other surnames

MarquardMarquardenMarquardsenMarquardtMarquartMarquarthMarquesMarquessMarquezMarquissMarquordMarquordtMärquordtMarquortMarquwardt