Find out how popular the first name Martinez has been for the last 49 years (from 1974 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Martinez by gender

Based on the last 49 years of data, Martinez is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 97% of people named Martinez being male.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Martinez.

The history of the first name Martinez

Martinez is a Spanish surname that originated in the region of Asturias in northwestern Spain. It is believed to be derived from the Latin name "Martinus," which was the name of a 4th-century Roman soldier who later became a Catholic saint. The name "Martinus" is derived from the Latin word "Mars," which was the name of the Roman god of war.

The name Martinez first appeared in historical records in the 8th century, during the reign of the Visigothic Kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula. It was used as a given name for males, although it was more commonly used as a surname.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Martinez is Martinus of Braga, a 6th-century Christian bishop and writer who was born in Pannonia (modern-day Hungary) and later became the Archbishop of Braga in Portugal. He is known for his writings on Christian theology and for his efforts to convert the Suevi people of the Iberian Peninsula to Christianity.

In the 12th century, Martinez appeared as a given name in the "Cantar de Mio Cid," a medieval Spanish epic poem that tells the story of the Castilian hero El Cid. One of the characters in the poem is named Martinez, although it is unclear whether this was a first name or a surname.

Another notable historical figure with the name Martinez was Gonzalo Martínez de Oviedo y Valdés (1478-1557), a Spanish soldier, historian, and author who is best known for his work "Historia General y Natural de las Indias," which is a detailed account of the Spanish conquest of the Americas.

During the Spanish Reconquista, the name Martinez was also used by several prominent military leaders and nobles. One such figure was Martín Martínez de Aragón (1357-1409), a Spanish nobleman and military commander who fought against the Moors in the service of the Crown of Aragon.

In the 16th century, the name Martinez was brought to the Americas by Spanish settlers and conquistadors. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name in the Americas is Juan Martínez de Ampiés (c. 1495-1561), a Spanish soldier and explorer who accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico.

Throughout the centuries, the name Martinez has been borne by many other notable figures in various fields, including literature, art, science, and politics. However, due to its widespread use as a surname, it is difficult to trace the history of Martinez as a given name in its own right.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Martinez was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Martinez, please contact us.

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