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Marais Family History

Marais Name Meaning

French: habitational name from any of various minor places in northern France named Marais from Old French mareis ‘marsh’. Alternatively the name may simply have been topographic. This surname is also established in South Africa. Compare Demarais . Altered form of French Desmarais a cognate of 1 above.

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


Similar surnames: Maras, Martis, Maris, Marois, Margis, Morais, Marris, Mardis, Martin

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Marais family from?

You can see how Marais families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Marais family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Marais families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1880 there were 12 Marais families living in Louisiana. This was about 75% of all the recorded Marais's in USA. Louisiana had the highest population of Marais families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Marais surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Marais ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Salesman and Saleslady were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Marais. 24% of Marais men worked as a Salesman and 40% of Marais women worked as a Saleslady. Some less common occupations for Americans named Marais were Clerk and Fountain Work. .

View Census Data for Marais | 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 1940

  • Salesman
    24%
  • Laborer
    20%
  • Farmer
    16%
  • Clerk
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Saleslady
    40%
  • Clerk
    40%
  • Fountain Work
    20%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Marais family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Marais. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Marais census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Marais

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Marais. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Marais immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 903 military records available for the last name Marais. For the veterans among your Marais ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Marais military records

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What is the average Marais lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Marais life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1987, and highest in 1969. The average life expectancy for Marais in 1962 was 69, and 60 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Marais

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