Surname Märtens - Meaning and Origin
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Q. Märtens
read moreMärtens: What does the surname Märtens mean?
Märtens is a German surname derived from the Middle High German word "mârtin", meaning "warrior". It is likely that those who originally bore this name were soldiers or warriors who fought in the wars and battles of medieval Europe.
The Märtens family was likely scattered throughout Germany, with roots reaching into both Northern and Southern Germany. As they moved further from the homelands of their ancestors, many of the Märtens family members spread out to different regions of Europe including Austria, the Netherlands, and other neighboring countries.
Märtens is an old surname and is found in documents dating back to the 12th century. Over the centuries the name has changed and evolved due to regional differences and migration of family members.
The name Märtens is still popular in German-speaking countries today, particularly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is believed that the surname is derived from the word “Martin”, which was an important name in ancient times and is still used today. The name Märtens is linked to those who value honor, duty, self-sacrifice, and justice.
The Märtens family is considered a noble family in German society and it is believed that many of the modern Märtens’ descendants are connected to each other by descent, either directly or indirectly. The Märtens family’s long and proud history is a testament to the strength and courage of their ancestors and the importance of passing on their traditions to future generations.
Order DNA origin analysisMärtens: Where does the name Märtens come from?
The last name Märtens is mostly common in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also found in small numbers in other European countries, such as the Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Russia, as well as in the United States.
In Germany, the last name is found primarily in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse, with a smaller presence in Bavaria, Saxony-Anhalt, and Rhineland-Palatinate. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the name is quite common and ranks 146th in the region. In Hesse, it is more uncommon but is still among the top 300 most common last names.
In Austria, Märtens is significantly more rare and, according to the surnames Atlas of Austria, ranks just outside the top 100 in the country. In Switzerland, the last name is found mainly around the Bern-Fribourg-Solothurn region and is among the top 600 most common last names.
Märtens is also found in large numbers in the United States, primarily around the cities of Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. According to the 1990 United States Census, the last name was ranked 883rd in the country.
As can be seen, the last name Märtens is most commonly found in German-speaking countries today. However, it is also relatively well-distributed throughout Europe, the United States, and other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Märtens
The surname Märtens is a German patronymic surname derived from the given name Martin, meaning warlike and of Mars, the god of war. Variants of the surname Märtens include Martens, Maertens, Maertins, Maartens, Martins, Mertens, Marttens and Martenssen.
The name also interacts with other suffixes. A variant found with the -man ending is generated as Märtmans. Other commonly used suffixes in the patronymic system of surnames include -el, -er, -ing and -mann. These will produce the spelling variants Märtel, Märter, Märtling, Märtmann, Martel, Martter, Marttling, Martmann, Maertel, Maerter, Maertling, Maertmann, Maartel, Maarter, Maartling, Maartmann, Martinsen, Mertel, Merter, Mertling, Mertmann, Martenssen and Martten.
The surname is also found in other German speaking countries with slight variations. In Dutch the surname is usually spelled Maerten and in Afrikaans, the variation could be Mardt or Mardte.
In anglicised forms, the surname Märtens can be spelled as Martens, Martinez, and Martínez, all of which retain the same patronymic meaning.
Another variant is the German surname of Marzahn, which is derived from a place name of a former village located near Berlin.
Some families of the Märtens surname have adopted variations due to social or religious factors. For instance, a Jewish family of the Märtens surname might adopt the spelling Mertens in order to escape anti-semitism. Similarly a Protestant family might adopt the spelling Martens in order to be less easily identified.
Famous people with the name Märtens
- Patrick Märtens: Patrick Märtens is a professional German football player who has played for the German national teams since he was younger. He currently plays for the German Bundesliga side, Hertha BSC.
- Ansgar Märtens: Ansgar Märtens is a German astrophysicist and space scientist. He is a scientific advisor for the European Space Agency and fronts many of their current projects.
- Franz Märtens: Franz Märtens was a German Catholic theologian and Benedictine prior in the Philipinische Congregation, a German monastic order. He was born in 1810 and is said to have been a kind and respected leader in his church.
- Albert Märtens: Albert Märtens was a German painter and sculptor of the 19th century. He is best known for his landscapes and portraits, but also produced sculptures and paintings of figures, animals, and still-lives. He travelled around the world before settling in Berlin and exhibiting his works in numerous art galleries.
- Paul Märtens: Paul Märtens was a German poet and playwright. He authored many plays and poetry collections throughout his lifetime, and was one of the most popular playwrights and lyricists in the German-speaking world in the early-1900s. His works were full of humor and wit, and often contained a subtle form of political and social commentary.
- Andreas Märtens: Andreas Märtens is a German sailing coach and competitor, having been on a number of successful sailing teams and clubs in Germany. He currently coaches the German National Sailing team and leads coaching programs around the nation.