Surname Mertel - Meaning and Origin
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Mertel: What does the surname Mertel mean?
The last name Mertel is a German surname. It is derived from the Middle High German mertel, which means "marten." The term “marten” is either a species of weasel, or a type of fur, which comes from the marten animal. It's thought that this surname originally belonged to someone who worked in the fur trade, likely as a hunter, trapper, or fur trader. It could also be derived from the Middle High German word meretel, which means "guest" or "innkeeper". This could indicate that the original Mertel's were innkeepers in Germany at some point in time.
The Mertel surname is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and France. It is also found in small numbers in other countries, including the United States.
The Mertel family has a rich history in central Europe, as the surname has been in use since at least the 12th century. The first known bearers of the Mertel surname were recorded in 1236 in Deux-Ponts, Germany. Over the centuries, the Mertel family has left its mark in Germany and other countries in various ways. It is believed that many of the Mertels living in Europe today are descendants of the first bearers of this distinguished surname.
Order DNA origin analysisMertel: Where does the name Mertel come from?
The last name Mertel is most common today in Germany, particularly in the Rhineland-Palatinate region, where it is one of the top 100 family names. It is also a frequent occurrence in other parts of Europe, including Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Outside of Europe, the name is less common, yet it still has local presence in parts of Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
The origin of the name is German and its literal translation is “marten”. This likely refers to either a family profession of trapping martens for fur or an individual ancestor who was known as the “marten man”. It is also possible that the name evolved from a personal nickname, such as “Martel” or “Mertla”, which is derived from “arte”, meaning “bear”.
The majority of modern-day Mertel families spell the last name with one “t”, however, there are also variants such as Mertl, Martel, and Mortel.
No matter where members of the Mertel family reside now, they can trace their family’s roots to Germany. Nevertheless, Mertels likely have relatives living all over the world as the name is widely dispersed.
Variations of the surname Mertel
Mertel is a common German surname. It is derived from the given name “Merten”, which means “dedicated to Mars”. It is most common in Germany, but can be found around the world.
Variants of the surname Mertel include Martel, Mortell, Mertel, Martelle, Martelli, Mertell, Mortel, Mortelle, Martell, Mertels, Martelius, Mertelius, and Mertelli.
Variants of the spelling of Mertel include, Martel, Mortel, Mertels, Martelle, Martelli, Martell, Martelius, Mertelius, Mertell, Mertelli and Mortelle.
Surnames of the same origin as Mertel include, Merter, Merte, Mertens, Merten, Merty, Merthen, Merta, Martens, Marten, Mortens, and Morten.
Mertel has been a popular surname in Germany for centuries, likely as a result of the popularity of the given name Merten. While today it is most commonly found in Germany, there are many families of Mertel, both in Germany and abroad, throughout Europe, Canada, the United States, and beyond.
Famous people with the name Mertel
- Karl Mertel (1820–1912), German Protestant theologian
- Johannes Mertel (1854–1913), German zoologist
- August Mertel (1861–1920), German botanist
- John Mertel (1875–1959), American admiral
- Carl Mertel (1901–1954), German anarchist
- Wolfgang Mertel (1903–1980), German cartographer
- Hans Mertel (1912–1980), Austrian-German physicist
- Susan Mertel (born 1947), American rower
- Bernd Mertel (1950–2011), German Roman Catholic pastor
- Kiana Mertel (born 1997), American alpine ski racer