Contents [hide]

Martens History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Sources

Martens History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Germany
Ireland

Etymology of Martens

What does the name Martens mean?

The name Martens arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Martens comes from the Latin name Martinus, which is a derivative of Mars, who was the Roman god of fertility and war. The popularity of the name Martin is due to Saint Martin de Tours, who was one of the best known saints in the Western World. With the spread of Christianity, people named their children after saints in the hope that the children might enjoy that saint's patronage. Martin is also one of the few saints' names, other than the names of Old English saints, found in England before the Norman Conquest. 1

Early Origins of the Martens family

The surname Martens was first found in Pembrokeshire. "Martin, Sire of Tour, four miles from Bayeux, came over with William of Normandy in 1066; and conquered the territory of Kemeys in Pembrokeshire. It was erected into a Paltime Barony, which he governed as Lord Marcher, having his castle at Newport, where its ruins still exist. " 2

"The famous Martin de Tours, who came over from Normandy with the Conqueror was distinguished at the battle of Hastings. Subsequently he acquired by conquest, as one of the Lords Marcher, a large district in Pembrokeshire, called Cemaes or Kemes, and became Palatine Baron thereof, exercising within his territory, subject to feudal homage to the King, all the jura regalia which, at that period, appertained to the crown of the English monarch, He made Newport the head of his Palatinate, and there erected his castle, the ruins of which still exist." 3

Later, some of the family were found in early times at Westmeston in Sussex. "The church is principally in the early English style, with a plain Norman arch between the nave and chancel; it contains a rudely-constructed circular stone font, and at the east end of the south aisle is an ancient chapel, the burial-place of the Marten family." 4

And another branch of the family was found at Anstey-Pastures in Leicestershire in early times. "This place, which was formerly parcel of the 'Ffrith of Leicestre,' and of the ancient duchy of Lancaster, was granted in the 27th of Elizabeth to Thomas Martyn and others, on a lease of 31 years, and after the expiration of that term was purchased, in the 4th of James I., from Robert, Earl of Salisbury, lord treasurer of England, by Robert Martyn, of Anstey, whose descendants have a seat here." 4

Down in the parish of Tamerton, Cornwall, "the manor and barton of Wilsworthy, in this parish, have been in the family of Martyn for many generations. This property now belongs to the Rev. Thomas Waddon Martyn, rector of Luffingcot in Devonshire." 5

In nearby Devon, Raddon was once held by the Martyns and Audleys in the reign of Henry VIII. 6 "Holsworthy, [Devon has a] market which is one of great antiquity ; and the chief fair was recorded in the time of Edward I. as having belonged to the ancestors of William Martyn from time immemorial." 6

Early History of the Martens family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Martens research. Another 195 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1295, 1446, 1484, 1492, 1503, 1582, 1594, 1602, 1617, 1620, 1621, 1640, 1643, 1646, 1648, 1653, 1660, 1662, 1678, 1680, 1692 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Martens History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Martens Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Martin, Matin, Mattin, Martyn and others.

Early Notables of the Martens family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir William Martyn of Athelhampton (c. 1446-1503), Sheriff of London in 1484 and Lord Mayor of London in 1492; Sir Richard Martin, Lord Mayor of London in 1594; Robert Martin, Esquire, who was made the Sheriff of the County of Radnour in 1648; Sir Thomas Martin Knight and Baronet, High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingtonshire in 1643; Christopher Martin (ca. 1582-1620), from Essex, was a Pilgrim and signer of the Mayflower Compact; Christopher Martyn (c. 1617-1678), an English politician who sat in the House...
Another 91 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Martens Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Martens World Ranking

In the United States, the name Martens is the 3,643^rd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 7 However, in Canada, the name Martens is ranked the 632^nd most popular surname with an estimated 8,211 people with that name. 8 And in Netherlands, the name Martens is the 61^st popular surname with an estimated 13,634 people with that name. 9

Migration of the Martens family to Ireland

Some of the Martens family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 81 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Martens migration to the United States +

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Martens or a variant listed above:

Martens Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Jan Martens, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1658 10
Tryntje Martens, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1658 10
Weyntje Martens, who arrived in New York, NY in 1659 10
Dirk Martens, aged 20, who arrived in New Netherland(s) in 1660 10

Martens Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hannes Martens, aged 20, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1742 10

Martens Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Wilhelm Martens, aged 21, who landed in Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Apollo" 10
Mr. Fried Martens, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Gerhard Hermann"
Mrs. Wilhme Martens, (nee Moeller), German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Gerhard Hermann"
Mr. Johanne Martens, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Gerhard Hermann"
Miss Minna Martens, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Gerhard Hermann", he died in 1846
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Martens migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Martens Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

F.G.G. Martens, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Steinwaerder" 11
Matilda Martens, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Brightman" in 1850 12

Contemporary Notables of the name Martens (post 1700) +

Leo Martens, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Wisconsin State Assembly from Marinette County, 1958 13
Jacob Martens, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1924 13
Henry Martens, American Republican politician, Mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts, 1934-37 13
Harry H. Martens, American politician, Member of South Dakota State House of Representatives, 1945-50, 1953-56 13
Glenn W. Martens, American Republican politician, Member of South Dakota State Senate 23rd District, 1923-24; South Dakota Republican State Chair, 1945 13
George W. Martens, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Minnesota, 1952, 1956 13
George F. Martens Jr. (1867-1926), American Democratic Party politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Hunterdon County, 1897-99; Member of New Jersey State Senate from Hunterdon County, 1904-06, 1913-21 13
Clarence G. Martens, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Mayor of Mt. Vernon, New York, 1927 13
Charles H. Martens (1883-1955), American Republican politician, Mayor of East Orange, New Jersey, 1918-52 13
Charles H. Martens, American politician, Village President of Franklin Park, Illinois, 1892-94 13
... (Another 18 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sources +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
"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
"Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) STEINWARDER 1849 aka STEINWAERDER. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Steinwarder.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BRIGHTMAN 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Brightman.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html