Surname Merthen - Meaning and Origin

Merthen: What does the surname Merthen mean?

The last name Merthen is thought to have originated in the region of Bavaria in Germany.

The name Merthen is derived from the German word ‘Mert’ which was an old term referring to a person of noble birth in Germany. The word ‘hen’ may have been added sometime after its initial inception, most likely referring to a person of descent from a specific family.

The Merthen family was mostly found in larger cities such as Munich, Berlin, and Köln in Germany. There were also many Merthen’s who settled in the United States, many of them after the late 19th century.

The last name Merthen denotes a family with a strong sense of nobility and loyalty, both of which have been seen as long standing traits among those with the surname. It is thought to reflect a family member’s dedication and service to society, as well as a proud tradition of privilege.

In modern times the surname Merthen is mainly concentrated around large metropolitan areas in the United States. These areas include cities like New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Dallas, to name a few.

The last name Merthen represents a long line of families who have served and protected their communities since their earliest days. As a result, few other surnames match the same level of loyalty and nobility as Merthen.

Merthen: Where does the name Merthen come from?

The last name Merthen is most commonly found in the United States today. It is one of the more prevalent last names among the large German population that has settled in the Midwest and Pennsylvania regions.

The Merthen surname originated in Germany many centuries ago, but the most significant presence of it today is in the US. It was brought here by German immigrants in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The largest number of people bearing the last name Merthen tend to live in the Midwest states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana.

The total number of people living with the Merthen last name in the US is approximately 2,500, with Texas having the most people of German descent of any state. Georgia and Tennessee also have significant numbers of people bearing the Merthen name.

In Germany, the Merthen last name is most commonly found in the region east of the Rhine river, where a large number of Germans have lived and worked for centuries. There are also quite a few people with this last name living in Belgium, Austria, and other parts of Europe.

Tracing a Merthen lineage in the US starts with looking at ancestry records within the states they lived in and any records they may have left behind when traveling to the US. Church records in these regions may also be a useful source of information since many of the Merthens settled in rural communities where the closest church provided spiritual and social assistance.

Digging deeper into family history can involve speaking with older family members or researching German records of births, marriages and deaths. German ancestry websites offer an invaluable source of information about the Merthen name and associated genealogical data.

Variations of the surname Merthen

The surname Merthen is an English variant of the German surname Mertin, and is also spelled Merten, Merton, Murtin, Martin, Marten, and Martyn.

The surname Merthen is derived from the Germanic personal name Martin. This name is derived from the Latin name "Martinus", which in turn derives from Martis, the Latin name for the god Mars. This typical medieval name also takes the form of “john” or “jack” in different languages. It is possible that the Merthen spelling is derived from this connection.

The Merthen surname is found in Great Britain and Ireland, and is related to the older surname Mertin, which is of German origin. The Merthen variant is believed to have been popularized when explorers, traders, and settlers arrived in Britain from locations in the German-speaking region.

The Merthen name found in other parts of Europe, such as the Netherlands, usually has the spelling Merthin or Martijn. It is also popular in Scandinavia, where it is often spelled Martinsen or Martens.

In the United States, the Merthen name is more commonly seen as Merton, Martin, or Morton. This variation is usually seen in the descendants of the early immigrants from England, Ireland, or other parts of Europe.

Merthen is also a common name in France, and is usually spelled Merton or Martineau. It is also occasionally seen as Murtin or Martinet.

The Merthen surname is an ancient name found in various forms in many countries and cultures, often derived from variations of the Latin name Martinus. Whether its spelling is Merthen, Martin, Morton, or any of its other variants, all these variants have one common factor: their origin as derived from the Latin "martis" or "Mars".

Famous people with the name Merthen

• Nels Merthen: A Norwegian-American classical pianist who has been performing in Europe and the United States for over 40 years.
• Meri Merthen: She is a visual artist, journalist and film maker who engages in documentary, experimental and narrative projects mainly in the Mediterranean.
• Calvin Merthen: An American professional baseball player who played for the Washington Senators from 1916 to 1918.
• Radley Merthen: A British artist best known for his abstract paintings.
• Thomas Merthen: The director of the Assen M.G.Neelen Orchestra, a Netherlands based ensemble of young musicians, composers and technologists.
• Robin Merthen: A Swedish organist and author, currently working as a lecturer on music theory, conducting and music education at Halmstad University in Sweden.
• Dwayne Merthen: An American actor and director, best known for his roles in the 1981 Fox series Jupiter's Darling, and the 1995 movie A Night at the Roxbury.
• Dan Merthen: An American-based artist and a noted sculptor. His work is often abstract in nature and focuses on form and uses a variety of metals.
• Kathleen Merthen: An American psychotherapist and author who focuses on Somali immigrant populations in the United States.
• Lars Merthen: A German graphic designer and photographer whose work has featured in books, magazines and galleries throughout Europe.

Other surnames

MerthensMerthiensMerthin