An English surname the Marsh family name refers to people who live near wetlands. The Old English term of ‘mersc’ and the Middle English term of ‘mershe’ both refer to wetlands, fens, peat lands or bogs.

Spelling variations for Marsh include Marsch and Marshe.

In England the original Marsh families lived on the border regions between Wales and England and between Scotland and England. Marsh families now live chiefly in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Hampton, Kent and the city of London.

In Scotland most Marsh families reside in Lanarkshire, Aberdeenshire, and Renfrewshire.

Marsh families in the United States primarily live in Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, California, Michigan, Indiana and Kansas.

Famous: Reginald Marsh (artist), Brad Marsh (ice hockey player of Canada), Fred Marsh (professional baseball player), Graham Marsh (professional golfer from Australia), James Barney Marsh (engineer and designer of large bridges with reinforced concrete arches known as Marsh ‘Rainbow’ bridges), Mae Marsh (actress) and Terry Marsh (professional boxer from England).