MARCEAU Origin of surname
Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name derives from a Gentile or vernacular personal name. Marceau, like many Jewish personal and family names, derives from the Latin/Roman name Marcus. Marcus, which in Latin means "belonging to Mars" (the Roman god of war), became widespread among Jews following the Roman conquest of the Near East, particularly in the talmudic period (the first five centuries of the Common Era). A very early example is that of Markah. According to Jewish legend, it has the same numerical value as the Hebrew Moshe (in English, Moses), which no other human being was allowed to bear. But actually, it is an Aramaized form of the Latin name Marcus. Markah was the name of a well-known 4th century Samaritan poet, venerated as the "fountain of wisdom", who wrote in Aramaic. According to one expert, this name, as exemplified by some of its variants, could also come from the Hebrew Mar Kushi ("dark gentleman/Mr. Black"). In the Diaspora, Marcus and its different forms were frequently used as 'kinnui'm ("secular names") for the Hebrew Moses, Mordechai, Manasse and Menachem, later becoming the basis for family names. The abbreviated French variant Marc is documented in the 13th century in Paris (France); the original Marcus in 16th century Morocco. The 17th century records Marculis in Prague (Bohemia), Markwitz in both Poland and Germany, and the Italian diminutive Marcello. In Eastern Europe, the root syllable was combined with Slavic patronymic suffixes (indicating descent in the male line) "-ov"/"-itz"/"-ich"/"-ici" and others; in Germany it formed variants such as Markhoff (which could be a Germanized Russian patronymic); Markwald and Markheim (belonging to the toponymic category of family names appearing to derive from place names); in France it became Marcel and in Romania Marcu. Other variations, which do not always correspond to the countries in which they are found, range from Marks/Marx to Marcous/Markusz; Marcus Marcus/Markus is also an acronym (a name created from the initial letters of a Hebrew phrase, and which refers to a relative, lineage or occupation) of the Hebrew 'Morenu Rabbenu Kadosh Ve Zakkai', that is "our holy teacher and Rabbi Zakkai". It was used to designate the great 1st century Tanna ("rabbinic sage"), Jochanan Ben Zakkai/Sakkai, whose surname means "innocent" in Hebrew. Distinguished bearers of the name Marceau include the world-famous 20th century French mime Marcel Marceau (born to parents surnamed Mangel).
Marcel Marceau
(Personality)Marcel Marceau (born Marcel Mangel) (1923-2007), mime artist and actor, born in Strasbourg, France. After the outbreak of WW II, his family fled Strasbourg during an evacuation and sought refuge in Dordogne. Recognizing his artistic talents, particularly in painting, he enrolled at the School of Decorative Arts in Limoges. In 1943, Marcel joined the French Resistance, utilizing his exceptional forging skills to copy and imitate identity papers for his comrades. After his father's deportation and subsequent death in Auschwitz, Marcel decided to join his brother, an important figure in the Resistance who later formed the FTP (Francs-tireurs partisans).
When rumors circulated about upcoming landing operations, Marcel was sent to hide in a house in Sèvres near Paris, where he had the opportunity to study under Charles Dullin at the Théâtre de la Cité and Sarah-Bernhardt. Additionally, he learned from Étienne Decroux, the master of Jean-Louis Barrault and the founding father of the "grammar" of mime known as "mobile statuary."
After the war ended in April 1945, Marcel Marceau joined the company of Jean-Louis Barrault and Madeleine Renault, portraying characters such as Arlequin and the pantomime Baptiste from Marcel Carné's film Children of Paradise. On his 24th birthday, March 22, 1947, Marcel introduced a new character, Pierrot lunaire, wearing white makeup as a tribute to the white mime of the 19th century. Marceau's pantomime, known as BIP (Bip the Clown), communicated through a universal language, transcending barriers of culture and language. While rarely speaking, when he did, his words were profound, addressing topics like peace and the necessity for alternative solutions to war. His talent lay in keen observation, capturing the essence of humanity in minute details. With a timeless poetic dimension, he maintained hope and faith in life, even when exploring serious subjects.
In 1955, upon arriving in the United States, Marceau captivated audiences with his stylish pantomimes, astonishing those accustomed to musicals, dance, and established entertainment industries. His inventions, such as walking against the wind, the staircase, the rope puller, and the public garden, demonstrated his ability to evoke emotions without uttering a single word.
Initially, he arrived in New York for a two-week stint on Broadway, but things fell into place. Subsequently, he embarked on numerous tours in the United States, some lasting up to six months. After 1955, he visited the United States approximately every two years.
He performed in front of four American Presidents: L. Johnson, G. Ford, J. Carter, and B. Clinton. The Marceau Foundation, housing all his archives, is located in New York, further solidifying his connection with the city. In his first show in Los Angeles, he astoundingly shared the stage with stars like Charles Laughton, Paul Muni, Gary Cooper, Cary Grant, Jack Lemmon, the Marx Brothers, Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire, and Danny Kaye. He felt overwhelmed by the experience.
Despite the consistent criticism and snobbery from French critics and audiences, Marceau persevered. It was only when Jacques Chirac, then mayor of Paris, provided subsidies to establish his mime company in the French capital that attitudes began to change. In 1978, Marceau's dream of an international school of mimodrama, preserving the "grammar" crafted by Etienne Decroux and his fifty years of experience, came to fruition. This school, funded by the City of Paris, teaches various disciplines related to mimodrama, fulfilling Marceau's vision of creating not just technically proficient artists but individuals who possess a spirit and dramatic method that allows them to evolve through their life experiences and interactions with the audience.
Marcel Marceau remains an inspiration to pantomime artists worldwide, particularly in Israel, with disciples like Hanokh Rosen. In 2002, he was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the Third Age by the UN, dedicated to defying the limitations of aging. He died in Cahors, France.