Surname Mertiens - Meaning and Origin
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Mertiens: What does the surname Mertiens mean?
The last name Mertiens is a Dutch patronymic surname, meaning it is derived from the given name of a father or ancestor. The name is likely to be derived from the Middle Dutch personal name 'Marter', which is derived in turn from the Latin name 'Martinus'. This Latin name is a general term referring to the Roman god of war, Mars. The Dutch name 'Marter' means 'dedicated to Mars' and the ending '-iens' is a suffix of diminutivity.
As a patronymic name, Mertiens is a common Dutch surname, with an estimated 20,530 people today carrying the name. The name is most commonly found in the Netherlands, particularly in the provinces of Drenthe, Groningen and Friesland, though it is also found in Belgium and Germany.
The earliest record of the Mertiens surname dates back to 1601, when a clerk in Gelderland, Netherlands was referred to as ‘Marternus de Jood’. Over time, the surname evolved and changed, eventually becoming known as Mertiens in the 18th century.
The Mertiens surname is an example of the common etymology behind many last names, tracing back to their origin in given names of parents or ancestors. The origin story combines elements of Latin, Dutch and other European languages - the result of centuries of cultural admixture in Europe.
Order DNA origin analysisMertiens: Where does the name Mertiens come from?
The last name Mertiens is a relatively common one, especially in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and the surrounding areas. It is also thought to have roots in France and Switzerland.
In Belgium, the last name Mertiens is still quite common, with many families living in Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, and other major cities. The variation Mauvains is quite common too, and is found mostly in the Flanders region of Belgium.
In the Netherlands, Mertiens is less common than in Belgium, although it can still be found in the province of Limburg. It is particularly prevalent in the cities of Venlo, Roermond, and Venray. The neighbouring German city of Mönchengladbach also has a sizable population of Mertiens and it's derivatives.
Mertiens is also found in other parts of Europe, including France, Spain, and Italy. It is often associated with the same countries where French culture is strongly represented, such as Switzerland and Luxembourg.
As a result of emigration, Mertiens is now found in many countries around the world, including in North America. It is particularly prevalent in Canada and the United States, as many families emigrated from Belgium and the Netherlands during the 19th and 20th centuries to seek new opportunities.
Variations of the surname Mertiens
The surname Mertiens can have several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
The variants of the name can include Mertens, Mertz, Mertincs, Mertyns, Mertyncz, Mirtens, Mirtincs, Martens and Martincs.
The spellings of the name can include Mortens, Mortz, Mortincs and Mortyns.
The surnames of the same origin include Meertens, Meertz, Meertincs, Merten, Mertinck, Mattens, Mattincs and Marthing.
The name Mertiens is thought to have originated from Low German and Dutch sources and is thought to have originally referred to people who lived by a marsh or ‘märt’.
Variants of the surname Mertiens are also found in some non-Germanic languages, such as in Luxembourgish, as Märtyns and Märtyncz.
The French and Belgian spelling of the name is Mertens, which is also present in Dutch as Merten and Dutch-Platt or Flemish as Merten or Mertin. The English spelling of this surname is Martin and Martyn, which is thought to be an adaptation of the original Dutch spelling of the name.
The Dutch spelling of Mertiens is also the same as the Scandinavian spelling of Mertens. This spelling is quite common in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland.
Overall, the surname Mertiens could have many different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Mertiens
- Jo Mertiens, Belgian professional soccer/football player who currently plays for Royal Antwerp
- Wilf Mertiens, Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s and 1940s
- Peter Mertens, German jazz pianist and composer
- Eugen Mertiens, Belgian rower who won a bronze medal in the 1952 Summer Olympics
- Maria Mertiens, Dutch singer-songwriter and composer
- Bob Merthens, American oil executive for Cuban Oil Corporation
- Mart Mertens, Dutch lawyer specializing in international law
- Florian Mertiens, Belgian politician and member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives
- Hubert Mertiens, Luxembourgian athlete who was a member of the Luxembourg national football team
- Henk Mertiens, Dutch football manager for the Netherlands national football team