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'martel' History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Sources

'martel' History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France

Etymology of 'martel'

What does the name 'martel' mean?

The name Martel first came from the French word "martelage" which means "hammering" and later the word "martel" was used for a "weapon hammer". 1

Early Origins of the 'martel' family

The surname 'martel' was first found in Gascony (French: Gascogne), an area of southwest France bordering Spain, that was part of the "Province of Guyenne and Gascony" prior to the French Revolution, where the family has held a family seat since ancient times. Charles Martel (c. 688-741) was a Frankish ruler best known for his victory at the Battle of Tours in 732, which halted the European invasion by the Moors. He was given the nickname Martel, "the Hammer", for his approach to battle. At this early date this was not a hereditary surname. He is also said to be the grandfather of Charlemagne.

By the 15th century the family was well established in Gascogne and several members held distinctive positions in society and were rewarded by their peers with lands, titles, and letters patent confirming their nobility.

Throughout the centuries the family prospered and expanded to various regions where members of the family adapted to the cultural and linguistic changes in these new areas and they became prominent citizens in their respective communities. The name Martel was also seen in Normandy with many distinguished families, cited in 1066 and 1133. 2

Honore Martel, son of Jean and Marie (née Duchesne), travelled to Canada from Paris, France around 1667. He married Marguerite La Mirault, daughter of François and Jeanne (née Clause), at the church of Quebec on 26th November 1668. They settled together at Dombour, Neuville, Quebec. 3

Early History of the 'martel' family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our 'martel' research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1271, 1290, 1295, 1570, 1600, 1654, 1708, 1789, 1859 and 1938 are included under the topic Early 'martel' History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

'martel' Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Martel, Martelle, Martelles, Martal, Martales, Martell, Mertel, Mertelle, Mertalle and many more.

Early Notables of the 'martel' family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Charles Martel d'Anjou (1271-1295), also known as Charles I Martel; he was the son of king Charles II of Naples and Maria of Hungary...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early 'martel' Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

'martel' World Ranking

In the United States, the name 'martel' is the 2,655^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 4 However, in Canada, the name 'martel' is ranked the 109^th most popular surname with an estimated 26,634 people with that name. 5 And in Quebec, Canada, the name 'martel' is the 36^th popular surname. 6 France ranks 'martel' as 307^th with 13,139 people. 7

'martel' migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

'martel' Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Nicolas Martel, aged 15, settled in Louisiana in 1719
Nicholas Martel, who settled in Louisiana in 1719
Nicolas Martel, aged 15, who arrived in Louisiana in 1719 8
Antonio Martel, who settled in New Orleans in 1778 with Francesca his wife and children
Antonio Martel, who settled with his wife Francesca Antonia, son Antonio 6, son Domingo 2, and daughter Blavina 11, in New Orleans in 1778
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

'martel' Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Luis Martel, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1816 8
Manuel Martel, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1823 8
Gaspar Martel, who arrived in Spanish Main in 1836 8
Jom Martel, aged 25, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1839 8
Albert Martel, who landed in Texas in 1850-1906 8

'martel' migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

'martel' Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Honoré Martel, son of Jean and Marie, who married Marguerite L'Admiraut, daughter of François and Jeanne, in Quebec on 26th November 1668 9
Pierre-Gratien Martel, son of Pierre and Jeanne, who married Marie-Charlotte Charets, daughter of Étienne and Catherine, in Quebec on 16th November 1687 9
Étienne-Joseph Martel, son of Nicolas and Marguerite, who married Antoine Boucher, daughter of François and Anne, in Montreal, Quebec on 20th November 1695 9
Jean Martel, son of Honoré and Marguerite, who married Madeleine Vannier, daughter of Guillaume and Madeleine, in Charlesbourg, Quebec on 14th February 1695 9
Raymond Martel, son of Pierre and Jeanne, who married Marie-Anne Trotier, daughter of Antoine and Catherine, in Batiscan, Quebec on 8th June 1697 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

'martel' Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Joseph-Alphonse Martel, son of Honoré and Marguerite, who married Marguerite Groinier, daughter of Nicolas and Marie, in Sainte-Famille-de-l'île-d'Orléans, Quebec on 8th January 1701 9
Étienne-Joseph Martel, son of Nicolas and Marguerite, who married Marie-Anne Brebant, daughter of Pierre and Anne, in Montreal, Quebec on 21st May 1703 9
Antoine Martel, son of Honoré and Marguerite, who married Catherine Guillet, daughter of Vincent and Isabelle, in Saint-Pierre-de-l'île-d'Orléans, Quebec on 15th November 1706 9
Jacques Martel, son of Paul and Madeleine, who married Marie-Élisabeth Rondeau, daughter of François and Marie-Anne, in Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly, Quebec on 7th February 1727 9
François Martel, son of Pierre and Marie-Charlotte, who married Louise-Madeleine Mariauchau, daughter of François and Louise-Philippe, in Quebec on 15th September 1732 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

'martel' migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

'martel' Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Margaret Martel, (b. 1844), aged 23, British domestic servant travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 3rd January 1868 10

Contemporary Notables of the name 'martel' (post 1700) +

Diane Martel, American music video director and choreographer
Sherri Martel (1958-2007), born Sherri Russell, an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by her ring names, Sherri Martel and Sensational Sherri
Arlene Martel (1936-2014), American actress and acting coach, known for her roles in Star Trek, Hogan's Heroes, Perry Mason and The Twilight Zone
Paul M. Martel, American Republican politician, Delegate to New Hampshire State Constitutional Convention from Manchester 3rd Ward, 1956; Candidate in primary for New Hampshire Governor's Council 3rd District, 1956 11
Louis Israel Martel, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to New Hampshire State Constitutional Convention from Manchester 3rd Ward, 1956; Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Hampshire, 1956 11
L. J. Martel, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Mayor of Lewiston, Maine, 1893 11
George Louis Martel, American Republican politician, Candidate for New Hampshire State House of Representatives from Manchester 6th Ward, 1938 11
Frank X. Martel, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1932 11
Erich H. Martel, American politician, Socialist Workers Candidate for Presidential Elector for District of Columbia, 1972 11
Edward Martel, American politician, Delegate to New Hampshire State Constitutional Convention from Manchester 12th Ward, 1956 11
... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the 'martel' family +

St. Francis Dam

Mrs. Annie Martel, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928

Sources +

Dionne, N.-E., Origine Des Familles Canadiennes-Français. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1969. Print.
Hozier, Charles D, and Antoine Bachelin-Delforenne. État présent De La Noblesse française (1883-1887): Contenant Le Distionnaire De La Noblesse Contemporaine Et Larmorial général De France, Dapres Les Manuscrits De Ch. D Hozier. Librairie Des Bibliophiles, 1884. Print.
Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 2, Institut Drouin, 1958.
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html