Marquis

Marquis is a French title of nobility, conventionally ranked below a duke and above a count. Its history is associated with a march, or border territory, whose ruler held particular responsibilities. The title later became an established rank, and it has also been adopted as a personal name.

The French word and the English given name are not always pronounced alike. Some families use a mar-KEE sound, while others give the final consonants a more English reading. Marquess is the corresponding spelling of the British title, rather than the usual spelling of this first name. Marquis can appeal to families drawn to title names, with a specific historical rank behind its ceremonial association.