Show ContentsMark History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The German state of Prussia, which reached the zenith of its power in the late 19th century, is the glorious birthplace of the distinguished surname Mark. In the medieval era, after the fall of the Roman Empire, the German lands were inhabited by a variety of barbarian tribes. The borders of the barbarian kingdoms changed frequently, but the region that became known in Prussia was roughly divided between the areas of Brandenburg-Prussia, West Prussia, and East Prussia. The colorful history of Brandenburg-Prussia, provides a glimpse at the oldest origins of the Mark family.

Early Origins of the Mark family

The surname Mark was first found in Prussia, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the feudal system.

Early History of the Mark family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mark research. Another 203 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1361, 1397, 1398, 1399, 1400, 1408, 1409, 1485, 1559, 1724, 1786, 1807 and 1819 are included under the topic Early Mark History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mark Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Mark include Mark, Marck, Marcker, Marckert, Marquart, Marquard, Marque, Markert, Marker, Marcart, Marcard, Marquart, Marquard and many more.

Early Notables of the Mark family

Notable figures of the time with the name Mark were Thomas Merke (Merks) (died 1409), an English priest and Bishop of Carlisle (1397-1400), Educated at Oxford University, be became a Benedictine monk at Westminster Abbey, consecrated bishop about 1397, served Richard II as ambassador to various German princes in 1397, one of the commissioners who negotiated the dowry of Isabella of Valois in 1398, and accompanied the king to Ireland in 1399, supported Richard against the usurper Henry IV and in 1400 was imprisoned in...
Another 85 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mark Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mark World Ranking

In the United States, the name Mark is the 2,538th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. [1] However, in Quebec, Canada, the name Mark is ranked the 958th most popular surname. [2] And in New Zealand, the name Mark is the 999th popular surname with an estimated 757 people with that name. [3]


United States Mark migration to the United States +

Much of German history has been shaped by the state of Prussia. It was an enduring military power until after the Second World War. At that time, the state was abolished altogether and its land divided between the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany. While some Prussians were content to remain in those countries, others moved away, many of them migrating to North America. They entered the United States mostly through Philadelphia, moving on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Others went to Canada, settling on the prairies and in the province of Ontario. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:

Mark Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Andrew Mark, who settled in Virginia in 1654 along with Elizabeth and Sarah
  • Margaret Mark, who landed in Maryland in 1658 [4]
Mark Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Mathew Mark, who arrived in Virginia in 1717 [4]
  • Johan Diterig Mark, who settled in Philadelphia in 1740
  • Michael Mark, who settled in Philadelphia in 1741
  • Michael Mark, aged 45, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1741 [4]
  • Conrad Mark, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1760 [4]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Mark Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Samuel Mark, aged 34, who landed in Louisiana in 1813 [4]
  • Adrian Rudolph Mark, aged 40, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1823 [4]
  • Balthasar Mark, aged 23, who arrived in Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Joh. Dethardt"
  • Joseph Mark, who arrived in New York in 1845 [4]
  • Andrew Mark, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1848 [4]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Mark migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mark Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Ellen Mark, aged 40 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Free Trader" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 [5]

Australia Mark migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Mark Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Henry Mark, aged 18, a copper miner, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Tantivy"

New Zealand Mark migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Mark Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • S Mark, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1844
  • Henry Mark, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Annie Wilson" in 1863
  • Fanny Mark, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Annie Wilson" in 1863
  • Edith A. Mark, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Annie Wilson" in 1863
  • Miss Margaret Mark, (b. 1848), aged 20, British dairymaid travelling from London aboard the ship "Matoaka" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 8th February 1869 [6]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Mark (post 1700) +

  • Hans Michael Mark (1929-2021), German-born, American government official, 13th Secretary of the Air Force (1979-1981) and as a Deputy Administrator of NASA
  • Donald J. Mark (1926-2018), American jurist, Judge on the New York Supreme Court from 1983 to 1997
  • Michael Mark (1886-1975), Russian-born American film actor who appeared in over 120 films
  • Michael Mark, American Drama Desk Award winning, Grammy Award nominated musician, composer, and actor
  • Herman Mark (1895-1992), Austrian-American chemist and winner of the 1979 Wolf Prize in Chemistry
  • Michael Mark, Grenadian football defender for the Grenada national football team
  • Thomas Mark Harmon (b. 1951), American football player and two-time Primetime Emmy and four-time Golden Globe nominated actor, probably best known for his role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in television show NCIS
  • Peter Mark Roget (1779-1869), English physician, born in Broad Street, Soho, London; creator of the Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases (Roget's Thesaurus)
  • Caleb Mark Scofield (1978-2018), American musician, a bassist and singer, known for the alternative metal band Cave In
  • Dennis Mark Nagy (1943-2023), American Air Force lieutenant, acting Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency from September 1991 to November 1991


The Mark Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fortitudine et fidelitate
Motto Translation: By fortitude and fidelity.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  3. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  4. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  5. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 41)
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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