2000
#128,797
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 122
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Marteeny
From the Greek word "martyr", referring to someone of resolute faith or conviction.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 143 Americans carry the last name Marteeny. That puts it at #138,300 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,396,883 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Marteeny surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
143
1 in 2,396,883
Census rank
#138,300
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
125
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 125 bearers of the surname Marteeny in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 138300th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Marteeny, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (7.2%) and Black (3.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Marteeny
The surname MARTEENY is believed to have originated in the region that is now modern-day Germany. It is thought to have roots dating back to the Middle Ages, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is likely derived from the German word "Marter," which means "torture" or "suffering," and may have been used as a descriptive name for someone who endured hardship or persecution.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the MARTEENY name can be found in a document from the town of Marburg, in the German state of Hesse, dated around 1375. This document mentions a certain "Johannes Marteeny," who was a local craftsman. It is possible that the name was initially associated with a particular trade or profession, although the exact details are unclear.
In the 16th century, there are records of a family by the name of MARTEENY residing in the village of Niedermarsberg, in the region of Westphalia. This family is believed to have played a prominent role in the local community, with some members holding positions of authority within the village.
During the 17th century, the MARTEENY name began to spread across various parts of Germany, as well as neighboring countries like Austria and Switzerland. One notable figure from this period was Hans MARTEENY (1621-1692), a merchant and landowner from the city of Cologne.
In the 19th century, the MARTEENY name gained recognition through the works of Johann MARTEENY (1801-1878), a German philosopher and author who wrote extensively on topics related to ethics and moral philosophy. His writings were widely read and influential during his lifetime.
Other noteworthy individuals with the surname MARTEENY include Wilhelm MARTEENY (1856-1923), a German engineer who made significant contributions to the field of mechanical engineering, and Lotte MARTEENY (1890-1968), a German actress and theater director who was active in the early 20th century.
While the MARTEENY name has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to various other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, the surname remains relatively uncommon, with most instances concentrated in Europe and areas with significant German heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Marteeny
Among Census respondents with the surname Marteeny, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (7.2%) and Black (3.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Marteeny bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Marteeny surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White86.4% · 108
- Two or more races7.2% · 9
- Black or African American3.2% · 4
- Hispanic or Latino3.2% · 4
Timeline
Historical Census data for Marteeny
Marteeny appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#137,327
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 122
+0 bearers (+0.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 8,530 places
2020
#138,300
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 125
+3 bearers (+2.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 973 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #128,797 | 122 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #137,327 | 122 | 0.04 | +0 bearers (+0.0%) | Down 8,530 places |
| 2020 | #138,300 | 125 | 0.04 | +3 bearers (+2.5%) | Down 973 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Marteeny surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #137,327 | #138,300 | -0.7% |
| Count | 122 | 125 | 2.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 4.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Marteeny bearers went from 122 to 125 (+2.5% change). The surname moved down 973 positions in the national ranking, going from #137,327 to #138,300.
FAQ
Marteeny surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Marteeny?
Name Census estimates that about 143 living Americans carry the surname Marteeny. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,396,883 residents.
How common is Marteeny?
Marteeny ranks #138,300 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 125 people with the surname Marteeny. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (143), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Marteeny.
Has Marteeny become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Marteeny went from 122 recorded bearers to 125. That is an increase of 3 (+2.5%). In the national ranking it fell from #137,327 to #138,300.
What does the Census say about the background of Marteeny?
Among Census respondents with the surname Marteeny, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (7.2%) and Black (3.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Marteeny in the 2020 Census, accounting for 86.4% (108 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Marteeny appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (86.4%), Two or More Races (7.2%), Black (3.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Marteeny (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Marteeny mean?
From the Greek word "martyr", referring to someone of resolute faith or conviction. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Marteeny (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Marteeny?
You can see how many people have the surname Marteeny on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.