In context, nothing. It's just part of a name like "son" has become to Western surnames- Thompson, Wilson, Johnson. Of course, at one time, "son" was used in place of a surname in a time when most people didn't have one, it literally meant you were the son of someone. If your father Thom (Tom) named you Billy, you were Billy Thomson. But the meaning is lost today, as are the meanings of most names. It's no secret that names have meanings- people look up the meaning of their names all the time, but we still consider them just names. The same is true for "maru". It's just a name, but the literal meaning is "circle" and it represents completness. Takimaru, a common japanese familyname, roughly means "conflict completing" or "peace". So it has a meaning, but it doesn't mean anything more than the name. You cant add it to the end of your name, for example... unless you were changing your name. It's not to be compared to "san" (suffix equivalent of "sir/ma'am") or other such titles. As far as Semimaru, I couldn't tell you what it means- something about a circle of bugs, is my guess. Swarm of Locusts? I think their mom hated them O.o

It appears that you are a fan of the Tenchu game series. Me to! Maru is a suffix added to a name. It literally means "round" or "circle". Some examples: rikimaru, tatsumaru, semimaru, etc. I have been told that it isn't very common now a days. It's a rather old or antique name suffix. There are some names that have grown out of style in japan, for instance: Sanosuke =P Hope that answers your question!

Although the suffix -maru does mean round, it actually is used as aterm of endearment and affection to a young child. In Ancient Japan, it was not uncommon for men to go through three or even four name changes in thier life. As a child, usually they had a name that ended in -maru, but as the grew older and reached certain acomplishments (such as completing thier gempuku or becoming a famous artist) they got a name change. http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/miscellany/names.html

Maru means round. It has no direct tribute to the name itself. =]

it can also mean valuable. it was a common suffix especially samurai childhood names.