Marquette is a name of French origin, derived from the Occitan word "marca," which means "boundary" or "border." The name was originally used to denote someone who lived near the boundary of a town or region. In France, the name Marquet was also associated with a type of large, square bell tower that was often found in churches.
The name Marquette has a rich history in North America, thanks to the French explorer Jacques Marquette (1637-1675). Born in Laon, France, Marquette joined the Jesuit order and traveled to New France (now Quebec) in 1666. He became a missionary among the Native American tribes and played a significant role in exploring the Mississippi River basin. In 1673, he accompanied Louis Jolliet on an expedition down the Illinois River to discover where it emptied into the Gulf of Mexico. This journey was the first by Europeans to document the mouth of the Mississippi River.
Marquette died at the age of 38 while returning from a mission among the Illinois tribe. Despite his relatively short life, he left a lasting impact on North American history and geography. The city of Marquette, Michigan, is named in his honor, as well as Marquette County and several other places throughout the region.
Today, Marquette is still used as a given name for both boys and girls, particularly in French-speaking countries and among families with ties to French heritage or North American history. It remains a strong and distinctive name with a fascinating historical background.
The name Marquette has been given to babies born in the United States for over seven decades, with a total of 652 recorded births since 1937. The popularity of the name has varied throughout these years.
In the early decades, from 1937 to 1970, there were fewer than 20 births per year on average. However, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, there was a significant increase in popularity, with over 20 births recorded annually between 1971 and 1978.
The peak of Marquette's popularity occurred in 1972, with 28 babies born that year. This was the only time when more than 25 babies were given this name in a single year.
After the late 1970s, the number of births decreased again. From 1980 to 2001, there were fewer than 20 births per year on average, with several years having fewer than 10 recorded births.
Despite these fluctuations in popularity, Marquette remains a distinctive and enduring name choice for parents in the United States over this period. Its unique spelling and sound contribute to its distinctiveness among other names starting with 'M'.