Surname Marsil - Meaning and Origin
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Marsil: What does the surname Marsil mean?
The last name Marsil is believed to be of French and Italian origin. It is thought to have come from the Latin phrase “marseillii”, referring to somebody from Marseille, or a longer form with “sil” added on the end, meaning “belonging to”. This likely became “Marsil” when passed down through generations and adopted as a surname.
The Marsil last name is not common but appears in records in a number of modern countries, including France, Italy, Spain, and the USA. It also appears in the earliest existing records from medieval Italy, where several nobles had the last name.
Despite the surname’s French, Italian, and Spanish roots, it is also used in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and other Central European countries.
The Marsil family appears to have a strong presence in the Louisiana region of the United States, suggesting more French roots. In Louisiana, many people with the family name lived in New Orleans, which was under French control until 1803.
In short, the last name Marsil likely originated in France in the form of the Latin phrase “marseillii”, and has been present in France, Italy, Spain, and the USA since medieval times. It also appears in Austria, Central Europe, and Louisiana in the United States. The family name may have been derived from either “marseillii” or “marseillii sil”, meaning “belonging to Marseille”.
Order DNA origin analysisMarsil: Where does the name Marsil come from?
The surname Marsil is a variant of the name Marcel, which is of French origin. It is derived from the Latin name "Marcellus," a diminutive form of Marcus. The name Marcus is believed to be associated with the Roman god Mars. Therefore, indirectly, Marsil or Marcel can be related to Mars, the god of war, in Roman mythology.
Today, the surname Marsil can be found in a variety of countries due to the spread of population. However, it remains relatively rare and it's not particularly common in any single region. Its highest concentrations might be in France due to its origin, and in countries with a significant French-speaking population or French influence, like Canada and Belgium. However, specific data on its prevalence in these countries is not readily available. Furthermore, due to global migration patterns, this last name could appear in virtually any country, including the United States and other English-speaking nations.
Variations of the surname Marsil
The surname Marsil might have various spellings and variants depending on the region and usage. Some of the possible alternatives to Marsil might include: Marceil, Marsel, Marsell, Marselle, Marcell, Marcel, Marcil, Merceil, Marscile, Marcyll, Marsill, Merseil, Marsile, and Marceille.
The surname Marsil is considered to originate from the French surname Marcel, which itself is derived from the given name Marcel. Marcel was popular in honor of St. Marcel, the 9th Bishop of Paris.
Also, the variants could be influenced by local languages or dialects where the family lived. For example, the French surname Marcel might become Marcil in certain regions of Canada due to the influence of French Canadian dialects.
Another alternative spelling is Marcille, predominantly found in some regions of France. A less common version might be Marsailles, which seems to be a conflation of Marsil and the French city Marseilles.
Moreover, the origin of surname might have an impact on the spelling. If the lines of the family emigrated to non-French speaking countries, they may have altered the spelling to better fit the language of their new home, resulting in variants such as Marcello in Italy or Marcellus in Latin.
But it's important to note that surname derivation can be complex and uncertain, and these are estimations based on pattern recognitions and history.
Famous people with the name Marsil
- Bruno Marsil: Mexican soccer player who played in the Major League Soccer (MLS) and Mexican Liga MX.
- David Marsil: French film director and screenwriter.
- John Marsil: American journalist who was a Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter for The New York Times and in Hurricane Sandy coverage.
- Rémy Marsil: French photographer known for his black-and-white images of celebrities, musicians, and politicians.
- Blas Marsil: Cuban singer, songwriter, and composer.
- Alice Marsil: French opera singer and the prima donna of the Théâtre de la Gaîté-Lyrique in Paris in the 1880s.
- Carlos Marsil: Venezuelan businessman and president of the Venezuelan Petroleum Corporation (PDVSA) from 1982 to 1984.
- Giulietta Marsil: Italian artist who specialized in pencil and charcoal portraits of cultural figures.
- Guilherme Marsil: Brazilian football manager and former player who is the current manager of Caldense.
- João Marsil: Portuguese football goalkeeper who is currently a free agent.