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Take your average person on a non chapter planet, how much would they know about space marines? Would they be legends that they believe might not be true? Or is there existence pretty well known, even to the point of distinguishing between chapters?

Secondly would this change for your average guardsmen/PDF member?

Legends.

Bit chapers names or identity unlikely unless maybe at the most a first founding from the sermons at imperial church.

Only of the achievements of the mighty Ultramarines!

Legends and myth, even for most guardsmen.

Wolves of Fenris.
It's a compilation of short stories about Space Mutts Lone Wolves....to be honest I wouldn't really recommend it as a good read but there are some really insightful bits on what the common man knows about the Astartes.
One of the stories has an oceanic mining villiage under siege by a monster fish thing and the local guard call for Astartes help, the word gets around and the whole villiage shows up to meet the Marines and everyone including the local Guard are pressing the Guard CO for what he knows about the legion Astartes. He never specifies the chapter name but what he describes seems like Ultrasmurfs, lines of massive superhumans in brilliant blue armour - what they get is a Lone Wolf and they're as uncomfortable with him as they are with the monster, the CO has never heard of the Space Wolves and is also afraid of him.
Anyway, what I took from that is that even space faring Imperial Guard are very localised and meeting one Space Marine is such a rare thing they don't even know about Chapters.

99.99 % only know legends. Many see Space Marines as modern humans might see angels, in fact. Some would even think they don't exist.

For PDF, it would be pretty similar to the above. For guardsmen? Much more likely to know they're for real. But even then, many go their entire career (assuming they live long at all) without seeing even a glimpse of a space marine.

Space marines are myths and legends to most worlds even some of their seed planets (see dark Angels). whole generations can go by with no one seeing a SM, but then again if they do it might not be good anyway.

Space Marines are mythical beings, almost like angels. A typical citizen thinks of them as such. Probably to Cadians they are, more or less, normal, since the whole "guard the gates of hell" thing.

About as much as the average christian knows about angels, which is the role Space Marines take in the Imperium's religion.
Apart from mythology, on planets that have been visited by Marines in a distant past there will likely be legends about Space Marines, which could also serve as a source of knowledge (be it correct or incorrect).
If they've had an education, they may have been taught some basic history about things like the Horus Heresy and other important events in the history of their planet and the Imperium that involved Space Marines. Some well-educated folks might know more about what exactly Space Marines are and about different Chapters and their histories, but for most people knowledge will be extremely limited. Especially outside of the political and intellectual elite of the Imperium.

They are legendary angelic storm giants, dismissed as fairy tales for scaring children into doing their chores and getting to bed on time.

 Lusall wrote:
99.99 % only know legends. Many see Space Marines as modern humans might see angels, in fact. Some would even think they don't exist.

For PDF, it would be pretty similar to the above. For guardsmen? Much more likely to know they're for real. But even then, many go their entire career (assuming they live long at all) without seeing even a glimpse of a space marine.

There's a short story by Robert Earl about exactly this. It's called 'Angels,' fittingly.

 Jimsolo wrote:

 Lusall wrote:
99.99 % only know legends. Many see Space Marines as modern humans might see angels, in fact. Some would even think they don't exist.

For PDF, it would be pretty similar to the above. For guardsmen? Much more likely to know they're for real. But even then, many go their entire career (assuming they live long at all) without seeing even a glimpse of a space marine.

There's a short story by Robert Earl about exactly this. It's called 'Angels,' fittingly.

You sir just made my night. Always love to find new stuff/fluff to read. I'm off to find this short story now.

The average person would probably know exactly what they're told by the Ecclesiarchy. Sons of the Emperor that will come down like avenging angels on the heretic, mutant and alien when the situation is dire enough. Some First Founding Chapters might be mentioned by name IMO, seeing as they're important poster boys and propaganda tools too. The Church would use their stories as lessons on why you too should worship the Emperor and pay your taxes.

Blood Angels for sure seeing as Sanguinius is the most beloved Imperial Saint, and Dante known all over. Shiny bling bling armor and aerial assaults (no mention of collateral damage obviously). Saving important people like the Emperor (or your local Cardinal, cough cough) at the cost of your own life is a worthy sacrifice.

Ultramarines too, for holding the realm of Ultramar in order and sending Guard Regiments even if they don't have to. Extra generosity when tithing is always good. ;-)

Others too if you can come up with something their example can teach Joe Average as he goes to church after a 12-hour shift in the Manufactorum.

Spetulhu wrote:
The average person would probably know exactly what they're told by the Ecclesiarchy. Sons of the Emperor that will come down like avenging angels on the heretic, mutant and alien when the situation is dire enough. Some First Founding Chapters might be mentioned by name IMO, seeing as they're important poster boys and propaganda tools too. The Church would use their stories as lessons on why you too should worship the Emperor and pay your taxes.

Blood Angels for sure seeing as Sanguinius is the most beloved Imperial Saint, and Dante known all over. Shiny bling bling armor and aerial assaults (no mention of collateral damage obviously). Saving important people like the Emperor (or your local Cardinal, cough cough) at the cost of your own life is a worthy sacrifice.

Ultramarines too, for holding the realm of Ultramar in order and sending Guard Regiments even if they don't have to. Extra generosity when tithing is always good. ;-)

Others too if you can come up with something their example can teach Joe Average as he goes to church after a 12-hour shift in the Manufactorum.

And well space wolves might be considered legends on other planets they rescued.
But a slightly more scary legend of ranging bearded warriors slaughterng enemies with wolf howls and close combat.

Chapters will be know on planets in the local systems they guard.