Recorded in many forms including Marr, Marre, Maer, Maeer, Maers, Maeers, Mahr, Maar, and many others this is a surname whicxh has at least four possible origins. In its different spellings it may be found in the British Isles, in Germany, The Netherlands, and patrts of Scandanavia. On the continent it is generally accepted that there are two origins,. The first is as a short or fused form of the popular biblical name Matthias, itself from Matthew, and originally from the Hebrew Matiayhu, meaning 'a gift from god'. This was a 'crusader' name, introduced by returning knight from the Holy Land in the 11th and 12th centuries. The second continental origin is from the pre 7th century Olde Norse word 'marre' meaning a marsh or fen, an area of lakes. As such it was topographical and would have desacribed somebody who lived by such a place. Another possible origin is Scottish, and from the district called 'Mar' in the former county of Aberdeen. The origination and meaning of this name spelling is uncertain, and may be from 'mer' meaning sea or also from the Scandanavian 'Marre'. Early examples of the surname recording taken from surviving rolls and registers include Konrad Mah, given as being the Burger of Weildstadt in Germany in the year 1281, Nicholas de Marr of the county of Berwick, in Scotland in 1328, Peter Maar of Mittelfranken, Bayern, on Decemener 4th 1747, and Gerrit Maeer who married Pietertje Dekke, at Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on December 11th 1772.

© Copyright: Name Origin Research 1980 - 2024