This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Marr,' a small parish four miles from Doncaster. The Scotch Marrs are from the district of Marr, in Aberdeenshire.

Johannes de Merre, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Henricus de Marre, 1379: ibid.

1748. Married — Joseph Meadows and Faith Marr: St. George's Chapel, Mayfair.

(1) in describing the parish of Mar, Aberdeenshire, the author of the View of the diocese of Aberdeen (1732) says (p. 81): 'There are to this day some people in this country of the surname of Mar, out of no account. ' The name is of local or territorial origin from the district in Aberdeenshire so named. (2) Probably also from Marr in Yorkshire. In the Yorkshire dialect mar is used of 'marshy land, sodden or reedy ground.' Nicolas de Mair, attorney for custumars of Berwick, 1328, and in 1330 Colin de Maire was appointed to the same office there (ER., I, p. 97,278). In 1235 William de Mer, perhaps the earliest of the name in record, witnessed a grant by Radulf Manus to the Abbey of Kelso (Kelso, 392). Gilberd or Gilbert de Mar of Fifeshire, John of Mar, bailiff of Linlithgow, and James de Mer of Aberdeenshire, all rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 195,198, 200,209). Richard Mar was present at inquest made at St. Andrews, 1302-3 (ibid., II, 1350), John de Marr, c. 1316, witnessed a charter of the lands of Linton-Rothirrik (RHM., I, 19), and David de Marre was king's messenger in 1327 (ER., I, p. 60). A canonry of Glasgow was granted to John de Mair, chaplain to Joan, queen of Scotland, 1346 (Pap. Pet., I, p. 116). Roger dictus Mer held land of the Abbey of Arbroath in 1329 (RAA., II, 1), Donald de Marre is mentioned in 1353 as late archdeacon of Brechin (REB., II, 394), Master David of Mer was treasurer of Moray, 1358 (Bain, IV, 17), and Alexander de Marr was custumar of Dundee in 1359 (ER., I, p. 614). John de Marre, canon of Aberdeen, 1366 (REA., II, p. 58), Andrew de Marr burgess there, 1403 (Friars, 24), Thomas de Mar witnessed instrument of concord between the bishop of Aberdeen and John de Forbes, dominus ejusdem, 1391 (REA, I, p. 189), and John Marre, merchant of Aberdeen, had a safe conduct into England in 1439 (Bain, IV, 1130). Duncanus de Mar was common councillor of Aberdeen, 1408, John de Marr is recorded as holding the same office, 1439, and Alexander de Marr the same in 1475 (Guildry, p. 185,186, 189). George Marr is recorded as late keeper of the city bells in Edinburgh, 1734 (ibid., p. 149). Jonhne of Mar and Dauid Mar to be 'abbat and prioui of bonacord, ' in Aberdeen, 1501 (Mill, Plays, p. 134).

(Celtic) belonging to Mar(r (Aberdeensh.), 12th cent. Marr, which the late Whitley Stokes thought was from a tribal name. (English) belonging to Marr (Yorks), 14th cent. Merre, prob. = the Pool [Old English mere] Cp. the Northumbrian dialect - word mar, ‘a pool.’

(Scottish, English) One who came from the parish of Mar (a tribal name), in Aberdeenshire, or from Marr (marsh), in Yorkshire; dweller at, or near, a marsh.

A district of Aberdeenshire, which had its Earls as far back as the XI. century, and still gives the same title to the Erskines, although they have no possessions there. Also a parish in Yorkshire.

Local: from the district of Mar in Aberdeenshire.

A location name in Yorkshire Or from the Old Norse, Már; from the Swedish, Mars; from the Dutch, Mar; from the Flemish, Maere; in the Domesday Book, Mere; a personal name.