A male name. Latin Marcus, a common Roman praenomen, and occasionally cognomen. It was probably derived from the name of the grand-daughterMars from some such form as Marticos. Though the name of one of the four evangelists, Mark (which is the English form, cf. Luke for Lucas) has never been popular, but it occurs from time to time in the Middle Ages and became a little commoner in the 19th C. The surnames Mark, Marks, and Marcus (which is found as a surname in the 13th C) are derived from it. The Latin form Marcus is found once in the 17th C, and has been used occasionally since the mid-19th C.

Marcus Hundred Rolls 1273, Feudal Aids 1303. Mark, Marke Hundred Rolls 1273.

Etymologists have not yet decided the origin of this crisply manly ‘Christian’: probably the word represents Mavers or Mamers, an important older Latin deity from whom descends Mars; if this be correct, Mark is a doublet of Martin (q. v.). Two other possibilities—for I omit the wilder hypotheses—are Latin mas (genitive maris), ‘a male,’ and Celtic marc (cf. A. -S. mearh), ‘a horse.’ To the early Christian Church it was familiar as Markos, still a favourite Greek name: see also Marcius, Marco, Marcus. The church has, in fact, done much to spread the name in Europe and, hence, in England; uncomparably, yet not negligibly, so has Marc Antony.

From the Latin name Marcus, Greek Μαρκος. The derivation is doubtful. The following guesses are found: —1. From Martius, the month of March, that is to say from having been born in that month; 2. From marra, a mattock or pick-axe (thus, marra, maricus, Marcus); 3. From marcus (root of marcidus), soft; from μαρλκος for μαλακος; 4. Contracted form of a word maricus, formed from mas, maris, the male kind; 5. From a word mascus for maricus, like carmen for casmen; 6. Calmet translates the name ‘polite, shining,’ from the Hebrew marak.

Latin (masculine) - Martial.

Mark, polite, shining. 1. The same as Marcus. Supposed to have been converted by St Peter, who calls him his son. 1 Pet. v. 13. He was the author of the Gospel under his name. 2. John Mark. Acts xii. 12.

Meaning: English form of Marcus.

A English name, meaning: Form of Marcius.