Meaning and origin
Derived from the Chinese character 马 (mǎ), meaning horse, it has a long history and symbolizes traits such as speed, power, and loyalty.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#1,240
Ma was the 1,240th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 28,452 people, about 10 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Where it is found
Countries linked to Ma.
No country links are recorded for this name.
Surnames like Ma
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Ma is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.