Martel
A French surname meaning “hammer,” likely first used as a nickname for someone forceful or for a warrior associated with a hammer or mace.
The #3,925 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 34,093 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Martel comes from Old French martel, meaning “hammer,” ultimately from Latin martulus. In surname use, it was likely first a nickname, either for a strong or hard-hitting person or for someone associated with the hammer-like mace used in medieval warfare. The name is famously linked to Charles Martel, whose byname means “Charles the Hammer.”
History
The surname is long established in French records and was noted by 19th-century writers as an old French family name. It appears in England at least by medieval times and later became established in several English counties as well. Some older writers also suggested that in a few cases it may have been influenced by the personal name Martin, but the hammer derivation is the standard explanation for Martel.
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Fun fact
The same nickname element appears in the famous title Charles Martel, usually translated as “Charles the Hammer.”
From the historical record
“+ ttitt] MARTEL \ the French Martel — Hammer MARTELLJ (a nickname, as in the case of , Charles Martel) [O.Fr. martel, f Lat. martul-us] Robert Martel.— /f«««;. Rolls. MARTEN (A.-Fr.-Lat.) for Martin, q.v. (A.-Fr.-Teut.) a nickname from the , Marten or Weasel [for martern, M.E.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)