Martin (name)


Martin may either be a given name or surname. Martin is a common male given and family name in many languages and cultures. It comes from the Latin name Martinus, which is a late derived form of the name of the Roman god Mars, the protective godhead of the Latins, and therefore the god of war. The meaning is usually rendered in reference to the god as "of Mars", or "of war/warlike".
It has remained a popular given name in Christian times, in honor of Saint Martin of Tours; it is also the most common French surname. Along with its historic Catholic popularity, it has also been popular among Protestants due to Martin Luther. In addition, African American children are often given the name in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., and many also have the name Martin as a family name. As well as this, Martin is also a popular first name chosen by Jews.
.
, the patron saint of soldiers, leaves the Roman army. St Martin is one of the most familiar and recognizable Roman Catholic saints.
The name is a shorter version of the Latin name Martinus.

The name ''Martin'' in different cultures

United States

Martin was the sixteenth most frequently reported surname in the 1990 United States Census, accounting for 0.27% of the population.

Europe

The name is often read as Martin in most slavic nations. Nicknames for Martin can be Marti, Marto, Martine.

Britain

;England
Before the Normans arrived in the 11th century, 'Martin' was rare in England. See feudal barony of Barnstaple for the post-Conquest Anglo-Norman family. The surname became common south of the Thames.
;Scotland
There are several groups of Martins or Macmartins in Scotland. The MacMartins of Letterfinlay appear to have allied themselves to the Clan Cameron in the late 14th century, and finally merged with the Camerons after the Battle of Lochaber in 1429. The MacMartins, who became a sept of Clan Cameron, are said to have been amongst the most loyal and valuable followers of Cameron of Lochiel. In the Jacobite rising of 1745, the MacMartins were "out with" Lochiel's regiment. According to the Oxford Companion to Scottish History, the MacMartins of Letterfinlay who were a sept of the Clan Cameron would have seen themselves as distinct within their own lands, but would have also seen themselves as Camerons if operating elsewhere outside of Lochaber.
There is a branch of MacMartins from Strathclyde. The Martins in Skye are traditionally associated with Clan Donald, and the Lothians were home to a powerful 'de St Martin' family from the 12th century.
;Wales
An Anglo-Norman knight named Robert fitz Martin, born in the late 11th century, settled in England's West Country, on lands inherited from a grandfather, and later participated in the invasions of Wales, where he was awarded the barony of Cemais, located between Fishguard and Cardigan. Robert fitz Martin established the caput of his barony at Nanhyfer or Nevern. Robert's son William fitz Robert fitz Martin inherited the family's property and re-established family control over Cemais, which had been lost to the Welsh. The senior line became extinct in 1326, but cadet lines still flourish in Wales and England.

France

With over 230,000 people holding the surname Martin in France, it is the most common French surname. The origins of its frequency can be attributed to Saint Martin of Tours, who was the most popular French saint, but the reason is not clear.
Martin was never a common given name in the Middle Ages, unlike Bernard or Thomas. Onomastics have tried to find other reasons for Martin's popularity, by examining, for example, the repartition of place names, but this explanation also lacks empirical support.
It can be a late surname connected with children of orphanages, like Alexandre, which was never a common first name in the Middle Ages but now appears quite frequently as a surname. Martin can represent charity towards orphans.
FranceBelgium
1. Martin1. Dubois
2. Bernard2. Lambert
3. Dubois3. Martin
4. Thomas4. Dupont
5. Robert5. Simon

However, this list hides strong regional differences in France and the increasing number of foreign names among the French citizens. Table based on births between 1966 and 1990:
Basse-NormandieAlsaceBrittanyPACAParis-IdF
1. Marie1. Meyer1. Le Gall1. Martin1. Martin
2. Martin2. Muller2. Thomas2. Garcia 2. Da Silva
3. Jeanne3. Schmitt3. Le Goff3. Martinez 3. Perreira
4. Duval4. Schneider4. Le Roux4. Blanc4. Petit
5. Lefèvre5. Klein5. Martin5. Fernandez 5. Dos Santos
6. Leroy6. Weber6. Simon6. Lopez 6. Ferreira
7. Hébert7. Fischer7. Tanguy7. Roux7. Rodrigues
8. Guérin8. Martin8. Hamon8. Sanchez 8. Dubois

Estonia

Martin is a common male name in Estonia - it was the most popular male given name throughout the 1990s. The name currently remains as the second most popular male name in Estonia.
Martin is also a surname – in the variations of Martin, Martinsen, Martinson.

Hungary

, the Hungarian form of the name, is commonly used as both a first name and surname.

Ireland

Surnames in Ireland are attested from the mid-10th century. Several distinct families featured the name as a surname element. They included Mac Giolla Mhártain, Ó Maol Mhartain, Ó Martain, Ó Máirtín, Mac Máirtín, Mac Máel Martain. Individuals included Echmílid mac Máel Martain, Giolla Ernain Ó Martain, and Fearghal Ó Martain, O.E.S.A..
After the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169, numerous unrelated bearers of the name settled in Ireland. Among the most well-known of the name were one of the Tribes of Galway.

Italy

In Italy, Martin is a rather common surname in Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Piedmont.

Poland

In Poland, the name is written as "Marcin".

Portugal

In Portugal, Martin is written "Martim" or Martinho. One famous Martin from Portuguese history is Martim Moniz.

Scandinavia

Martin is common as a given name in all three Scandinavian countries, and is a typically a top-ranking name in popularity, on any given year. Martin is used as a given name in Scandinavia, and a surname. Also derivative surnames as per Scandinavian naming tradition, such as Martinsen and Martinsson, are common. Morten is a Scandinavian version of Martin.

Spain

Martín is a common given name and is also among the most common surnames in Spain. Its Catalan variant is Martí and in Galician is Martiño. Jewish families in medieval Spain Jews who remained in Spain and agreed to accept Christianity were asked to change their surnames. One of the names taken up by these Jewish conversos was "Martí". Sephardic Jews also used Martín or Martínez, as a variation from the Hebrew name Mordecai.

Geographical distribution

As of 2014, 32.6% of all known bearers of the surname Martin were residents of the United States, 19.2% of Spain, 12.0% of France, 4.7% of England, 3.5% of Canada, 2.9% of Germany, 2.3% of Argentina, 2.2% of the Philippines, 2.2% of Mexico, 2.1% of Tanzania, 2.0% of Australia, 1.5% of Cuba and 1.3% of South Africa.
In Spain, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average in the following autonomous communities:
In France, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average in the following regions:
Notable people sharing the surname "Martin" include:

Born before 1700

They generally mean "descendant of Martin".
Those people who are known primarily by the name "Martin" are listed below.