Martens
A patronymic surname meaning “son of Martin,” especially common in Dutch and German-speaking areas.
The #3,540 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 30,581 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Martens is a patronymic form built on the personal name Martin, ultimately from Latin Martinus. In Dutch and some German usage, the -s ending marks descent or association, so the name means “Martin’s son” or more broadly “belonging to Martin.” Historical sources also note that Martens can appear as a Dutch form, though it sometimes overlaps with English spellings derived from the same Christian name.
History
The surname is well attested in the Low Countries and northern Germany, where Martin-based patronymics such as Martens, Mertens, and Martensen are common. English records also show Marten/Martens as a variation of the baptismal surname from Martin. Some historical writers connected particular Martens families, such as those in Sussex, with continental origin, but such claims are family-specific rather than universal.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In Dutch naming patterns, Martens is part of a wider family of Martin-derived surnames that includes Martensen and Meertens.
From the historical record
“o, 13, o. Marten, Martens.— Bapt Hhe son of Martin,* q.v. Strictly speak- ing the Dutch form, but sometimes merely an English variation. 1541. Buried — Thomas Marten, a”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (alternate scan)