Surname Martins - Meaning and Origin
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Unravelling the Genetic Tapestry of My Surname 'Martins' through the iGENEA DNA Test
My iGENEA DNA test illustrated a fascinating journey into the history, migration patterns, and ancestral diversity of the Martins lineage. It weaves together a compelling tale of my family extending from the Iberian Peninsula to Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, imbued with hints of Northern Europe and Celtic influences that were uncovered through prevalent haplogroups.
V. Martins
read moreMartins: What does the surname Martins mean?
The last name Martins is an ancient surname of Portuguese and Spanish origin. The name is derived from the Latin word ‘Martinus’, meaning ‘a devotee of Mars’, the Roman god of war. It was used as a personal name from early Christian times in honour of Saint Martin of Tours (4th century AD).
The earliest recorded use of the surname dates back to 13th century Portugal, where the name spread throughout the Iberian Peninsula. By the 16th century, the name Martins became well established in Portugal, where it is still the 13th most common last name in the country today. It is much less common in Spain, although it is occasionally found in Galicia and the Basque Country.
The name has been taken to many places around the world, spreading across the borders as its bearers migrated. It can now be found in parts of Latin America, North America, the Caribbean, Anglophone countries of Europe, and other regions.
The original meaning of the Martins surname was ‘son of Martin’, and it is still the literal translation today. Ultimately, it indicates a proud history of warriors and defence, commemorating the patron saint of soldiers.
Order DNA origin analysisMartins: Where does the name Martins come from?
The last name Martins is particularly common in Portugal, in terms of prevalence and geographic spread. As of 2016, it was the second-most common surname in the country. It is also found at a lower rate in many other countries.
In the United States, Martins is ranked at about position 4,500 in terms of popularity. This indicates that there are about 129,000 individuals with the last name Martins in the US, though many of these will have Portuguese-American heritage.
In South America, Martins is also relatively common, particularly in Brazil, where it was recorded as the 25th most common surname in 2014. In Brazil, it is particularly popular in the southern states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.
In other parts of the world, Martins is not as common, though it is still seen in many countries. For instance, in Canada it is the 482nd most common surname, with approximately 4,500 individuals recorded with the last name. Africa is also home to individuals with the last name Martins. In some countries, such as Cameroon and Guinea-Bissau, it is among the top 50 last names.
Overall, the surname Martins is a relatively common one. Its prevalence and geographic spread are particularly high in many parts of South America and Europe, though individuals with this last name can be encountered in many other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Martins
The Martins surname has many variants, spellings, and alternate surnames depending on the country or language. In Spanish, it is Martín, in Portuguese, Martins, and in Italian, it is Martini. In France, it is commonly Martinet. The alternate tree of the Martins surname consists of Martinetti, Martinuzzi, Martinossi, Martinù, and Marini.
In Ireland, the surname is derived from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Mhártain, which also has several variants. Some of these are MacGillmartin, MacGillamartin, MacGillmartain, and MacGillmarten.
In the Italian language, the variants of the surname Martini include Martinelli, Martinello, Martino, and Martinazzo.
In Hungary, the Martins surname is spelled variation of the common Martonos which is derived from the Latin form “Martinus”. The Hungarian variations of the surname Martonos that are found in records include Martonka, Martonyi, Martonfy, Martonyak, and Martonich.
In Poland, the Martins surname can be found as Marton, Martyniuk, Martiniuk, Martyn, and Martynowicz.
In Scotland, the Martins surname is derived from Martinus, with spellings, variants, and alternate surnames stemming from the Gaelic language such as Makmurtin, MacMartin, MacMartyn, MacMartine, and Makmartin.
Other variants of the Martins surname can be found in England, the Netherlands, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Slovakia, Russia, and Ukraine.
Famous people with the name Martins
- Martin Lawrence: Famous American actor who rose to fame with the success of his TV sitcom, Martin. He later became a successful film star and voice actor.
- Leonel Martins: Brazilian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has been active since 1994, having worked with artists such as Suba, Marisa Monte and Ney Matogrosso.
- Andre Martins: Portuguese footballer currently playing for the Liga NOS club Famalicão.
- Esther Martins: Brazilian singer and musician who has released four studio albums, recently appearing at festivals like Rock in Rio.
- Joe Martins: Former professional Rugby League footballer who played for the Scotland national team.
- Herbert Martins: Brazilian distance runner who has competed in the Olympic Games, Pan American Games and IAAF World Championships.
- Mel Martins: Portuguese footballer who played in midfield for S.C. Braga in the 1960s.
- Julie Martins: French artist whose work ranges from abstract lyrics to figurative illustration.
- Paul Martins: Angolan artist, painter, sculptor and professor, who was the first African to install one of his works in the sculptural area of the African Safari of Sesimbra, Portugal.
- Mika Martins: Multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter from the island of Sao Tome, having recently released her debut album ‘Voar’ in 2018.