Martin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Martin is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Martin comes from the Latin name Martinus, which is a derivative of Mars, who was the Roman god of fertility and war. The popularity of the name Martin is due to Saint Martin de Tours, who was one of the best known saints in the Western World. With the spread of Christianity, people named their children after saints in the hope that the children might enjoy that saint’s patronage. Martin is also one of the few saints’ names, other than the names of Old English saints, found in England before the Norman Conquest. [1]

Early Origins of the Martin family

The surname Martin was first found in Pembrokeshire. “Martin, Sire of Tour, four miles from Bayeux, came over with William of Normandy in 1066; and conquered the territory of Kemeys in Pembrokeshire. It was erected into a Paltime Barony, which he governed as Lord Marcher, having his castle at Newport, where its ruins still exist. ” [2]

“The famous Martin de Tours, who came over from Normandy with the Conqueror was distinguished at the battle of Hastings. Subsequently he acquired by conquest, as one of the Lords Marcher, a large district in Pembrokeshire, called Cemaes or Kemes, and became Palatine Baron thereof, exercising within his territory, subject to feudal homage to the King, all the jura regalia which, at that period, appertained to the crown of the English monarch, He made Newport the head of his Palatinate, and there erected his castle, the ruins of which still exist.” [3]

Later, some of the family were found in early times at Westmeston in Sussex. “The church is principally in the early English style, with a plain Norman arch between the nave and chancel; it contains a rudely-constructed circular stone font, and at the east end of the south aisle is an ancient chapel, the burial-place of the Marten family.” [4]

And another branch of the family was found at Anstey-Pastures in Leicestershire in early times. “This place, which was formerly parcel of the ‘Ffrith of Leicestre,’ and of the ancient duchy of Lancaster, was granted in the 27th of Elizabeth to Thomas Martyn and others, on a lease of 31 years, and after the expiration of that term was purchased, in the 4th of James I., from Robert, Earl of Salisbury, lord treasurer of England, by Robert Martyn, of Anstey, whose descendants have a seat here.” [4]

Down in the parish of Tamerton, Cornwall, “the manor and barton of Wilsworthy, in this parish, have been in the family of Martyn for many generations. This property now belongs to the Rev. Thomas Waddon Martyn, rector of Luffingcot in Devonshire.” [5]

In nearby Devon, Raddon was once held by the Martyns and Audleys in the reign of Henry VIII. [6] “Holsworthy, [Devon has a] market which is one of great antiquity ; and the chief fair was recorded in the time of Edward I. as having belonged to the ancestors of William Martyn from time immemorial.” [6]

Early History of the Martin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Martin research.

Martin Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person’s name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Martin, Matin, Mattin, Martyn and others.

Early Notables of the Martin family (pre 1700)

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir William Martyn of Athelhampton (c. 1446-1503), Sheriff of London in 1484 and Lord Mayor of London in 1492; Sir Richard Martin, Lord Mayor of London in 1594; Robert Martin, Esquire, who was made the Sheriff of the County of Radnour in 1648; Sir Thomas Martin Knight and Baronet, High Sheriff of Cambridgeshireand Huntingtonshire in 1643; Christopher Martin (ca. 1582-1620), from Essex, was a Pilgrim and signer of the Mayflower Compact; Christopher Martyn (c. 1617-1678), an English politician.

Martin World Ranking

In the United States, the name Martin is the 16^th most popular surname with an estimated 678,951 people with that name. [7] However, in Canada, the name Martin is ranked the 4^th most popular surname with an estimated 91,680 people with that name. [8] And in Quebec, Canada, the name Martin is the 34^th popular surname. [9] Newfoundland, Canada ranks Martin as 16^thwith 871 people. [10] France ranks Martin as 1^st with 235,846 people. [11] Australia ranks Martin as 12^nd with 60,595 people. [12] New Zealand ranks Martin as 25^th with 5,838 people. [13] The United Kingdom ranks Martin as 20^th with 117,812 people. [14] South America ranks Martin as 26^th with 124 people. [15] South Africa ranks Martin as 267^th with 25,719 people. [16]

 Migration of the Martin family to Ireland

Some of the Martin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Martin migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Martin or a variant listed above were: 

Martin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Capt. John Martin, (1560 – 1623), who arrived in Jamestown, Virginia aboard the ship “Discovery” in 1607, 3rd son of Sir Richard Martin.
• Mr. George Martin, who arrived in Jamestown, Virginia aboard the ship “Discovery” in 1607 [17]
• Mr. William Martin, who was aboard the ship “Sea Venture” who wrecked in Bermudas in 1609, they managed to build a new ship to continue to Jamestown in 1610. [17]
• Mr. George Martin, who arrived in Virginia in 1616 aboard the ship “George” [17]
• Mrs. Mary Martin, (nee Prower), (c. 1580-1621), who arrived in Plymouth, Mass in 1620 aboard the ship “Mayflower”

Martin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Adam Martin, who landed in Charles Town, South Carolina in 1782 [18]

Martin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Charles Martin, aged 20, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 [18]
• Barbara Martin, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1806 [18]
• Andrew Martin, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 [18]
• James Martin, who arrived in New York in 1820
• August, Edmond and Belfort Saint Martin, who settled in New Orleans in 1820

Martin Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Mr. Robert Martin, (b. 1842), aged 58, Cornish farmer, from St Austell, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship “Lucania” arriving at Ellis Island, UK on 13th October 1900 en route to California, USA [19]
• Mr. Richard Martin, (b. 1903), aged 6 months, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship “Lucania” arriving at Ellis Island, UK on 4th July 1903 en route to Vulcan, Michigan, USA [19]
• Miss Mildred Martin, (b. 1890), aged 13, Cornish settler, from Helston, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship “New York” arriving at Ellis Island, UK on 12th September 1903 en route to Vulcan, Michigan, USA [19]
• Mr. John Martin, (b. 1873), aged 30, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship “St Paul” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 19th July 1903 en route to Park City, Utah, USA [19]
• Mrs. Mary Martin, (b. 1865), aged 38, Cornish settler, from Helstone, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship “New York” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 12th September 1903 en route to Vulcan, Michigan, USA [19]