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Origins of the Martin surname

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What does the name Martin mean?

The Martin surname is common worldwide, particularly in Europe (it is the most common last name in France and one of the most common in Spain). The name, mostly has a patronymic root. It is given to those who are the son or descendant of somebody with the name Martin. In England the surname Martin can also be seen as a geographic name, denoting someone who originates from one of the number of places called Merton. Martin, being a Latin given name, appears very rarely before the Norman conquest.

Alternative variations of the name Martin

Martin, Marten, Martins, Martyn, Matin

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Where do most Martins live?

In 1921, most Martins lived in London.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Martins

How common is your surname?

26th most common surname in the UK

We have 732,000 records for the Martin surname. The oldest one dates back to 1100.

Who were Martins most likely to marry?

Smiths

&

Johnsons

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Martins.

What are the most common Martin first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Martin family members

Common jobs for Martins

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Martins in 1921
Dressmaker

3,464

Laundress

2,131

Domestic Servant

1,993

General Servant Domestic

1,682

General Servant

1,369

Common Male occupations for Martins in 1921
Agricultural Labourer

3,173

General Labourer

2,879

Coal Miner

2,522

Carpenter

1,999

Farm Labourer

1,927

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Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more.

We found over 960,000 family trees with the Martin surname

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