Show ContentsMarx History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Marx

What does the name Marx mean?

The distinguished Austrian surname Marx is a proud sign of a rich and ancient ancestry. Austria, which was originally home to a Celtic people, was conquered by the Roman Empire in about 15 BC. Following the fall of Rome, Austria was repeatedly invaded by barbarian tribes, such as the Vandals, Visigoths, and Huns, who swept in from the east. During the 5th and 6th centuries, the Alemanni, Avars and Slavs settled Austria. The Avars were defeated in 785 by the Frankish emperor Charlemagne, who set up the East Mark, which later became known as the Österreich. Austria was ruled by the Babenburger dynasty until 1278, when they were succeeded by the Hapsburg dynasty, which ruled Austria until the 20th century.

Early Origins of the Marx family

The surname Marx was first found in Austria, where the name could be considered to have made a great contribution to the feudal society which became the backbone of modern Europe. The name became prominent in local affairs and branched into many houses which played important roles in the local and national conflicts, with each group seeking power and status in an ever changing territorial profile.

Early History of the Marx family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Marx research. Another 102 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1818, 1863, 1875, 1881, 1883, 1921 and 1923 are included under the topic Early Marx History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Marx Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Marx include Marx, Marks, Marcks, Markus, Marcus, Marxen and many more.

Early Notables of the Marx family

  • Karl Heinrich Marx (1818-1883) of Trier, who was one of the most profoundly influential thinkers of modern times...
  • Wilhelm Marx (b.1863) was a German politician who became president of the Center party in 1921 and in 1923 became Chancellor of the Reich...

Marx World Ranking

the United States, the name Marx is the 2,916th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Marx is ranked the 1,654th most popular surname with an estimated 3,639 people with that name. 2 And in South Africa, the name Marx is the 676th popular surname with an estimated 10,054 people with that name. 3


Marx migration to the United States +

Austria was made a republic after the First World War. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was broken up by the Treaty of Versailles and many of its people found themselves in the new nation of Czechoslovakia. Many other Austrians and expatriate Austrians made their way to North America in the 20th century. Most landed in Philadelphia, later continuing on to the states of Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Some Austrian settlers also went to western Canada and Ontario. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Marx or a variant listed above:

Marx Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Matthew Marx, who immigrated to America in 1709
  • Wilhelm Marx, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1740 4
  • Joh Mich Marx, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1741 4
  • Joh Geo Marx, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1750 4
  • Johann Georg Marx, who landed in Philadelphia in 1750
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Marx Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Peter Marx, who arrived in America in 1834 4
  • Charlotte Marx, aged 29, who arrived in America in 1839 4
  • Maria Marx, who landed in Texas in 1840-1850 4
  • Mrs. Margarete Marx, (nee Britting, Merz), aged 36, who immigrated to Texas in 1844 aboard the ship "Herschel", she died in 1846
  • Jakob Marx, who arrived in America in 1844 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Marx Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Henry Marx, who landed in Arkansas in 1906 4
  • Abe Marx, who arrived in Arkansas in 1906 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Marx (post 1700) +

  • Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx (1890-1977), legendary American comedian and film star, one of the Marx Brothers
  • Sue Marx (1930-2023), American Academy Award winning documentary film director and producer
  • Leo Marx (1919-2022), American historian, literary critic and educator, Professor of the History and Philosophy of Science Emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Arthur Adolph "Harpo" Marx (1888-1964), American comedian and film star, one of the Marx Brothers
  • Leonard "Chico" Marx (1887-1961), American comedian and film star, one of the Marx Brothers
  • Herbert Manfred "Zeppo" Marx (1901-1979), American film star, theatrical agent and businessman, one of the Marx Brothers
  • Robert F. Marx (1936-2019), American pioneer in scuba diving and was best known for his work with shipwrecks and sunken treasure
  • Miriam Marx (1927-2017), American author, daughter of Groucho Marx
  • Alexander Marx (1878-1953), American historian, bibliographer and librarian
  • ... (Another 41 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bismarck
  • Heinz Marx (1921-1941), German Mechanikersgefreiter (A) who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 5


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/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. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details


Houseofnames.com on Facebook