Martens Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Martens last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Martens last name
Meaning of the Martens last name: son of Martin. Martens is a Low German and Dutch patronymic, "son of Marten", the northern form of Martin. The name honours Saint Martin of Tours, the soldier who shared his cloak with a beggar, whose feast on 11 November was a major day in the farming year. Martens is most common in Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg, and is also widespread in Flanders and the Netherlands, where Mertens is a frequent variant. Martin was one of the most popular saints' names of medieval northern Europe, and many churches in Germany and the Netherlands were dedicated to him. The -s ending of Martens is the typical Low German and Dutch genitive, marking "Marten's son". Martens families emigrated to the United States, Canada and Brazil, often from Mennonite communities.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Martens name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Martens name in Germany. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the Netherlands, Belgium and the United States; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Martens name FAQ
What does the Martens name mean?
Son of Martin. Common variants include Marten, Mertens, Martensen.
Where does the Martens surname come from?
It originates in Germany, and is also found in the Netherlands, Belgium and the United States.
Is there a Martens coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Martens crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Martens coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Duden Familiennamen; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).