Find out how popular the last name Martell is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Martell.

Martell, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Martell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Martell in America

Martell is the 3234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Martell surname appeared 11,158 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Martell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Martell to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Martell

The surname Martell originated in France, with its earliest known bearers tracing their roots back to the Normandy region during the medieval era. The name is derived from the Latin word "martellus," meaning "little hammer," suggesting that the first bearers of this name may have been blacksmiths or metalworkers.

The earliest recorded instance of the Martell surname dates back to the 11th century, when it appeared in the historic Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This document mentions individuals bearing the surname Martell residing in various parts of Normandy and neighboring regions.

During the Middle Ages, the Martell family gained prominence and established themselves as influential landowners and noblemen. One notable figure from this period was Jean Martell, a French knight who participated in the Crusades and fought valiantly in the Battle of Ascalon in 1099. He was renowned for his bravery and skill on the battlefield.

As the centuries passed, the Martell name spread across France and beyond. In the 17th century, a branch of the family established the renowned Martell Cognac House in the town of Cognac, in the Charente region of southwestern France. The Martell Cognac House quickly gained a reputation for producing high-quality brandies and became one of the most prestigious Cognac producers in the world.

Another prominent figure bearing the Martell surname was Gédéon Martell (1683-1761), a French merchant and founder of the Martell Cognac House. His entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to quality helped establish the brand's global reputation, which continues to this day.

In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook the contributions of Alphonse de Lamartine (1790-1869), a French writer, poet, and statesman who played a pivotal role in the French Romantic movement. Although his surname was not Martell, he was born Alphonse Marie Louis de Prat de Lamartine, and his mother's maiden name was Martell.

Throughout history, the Martell surname has been associated with various notable individuals, including Pierre Martell (1633-1711), a French Jesuit missionary who traveled to China and contributed to the understanding of Chinese culture and language in the West, and Jean-Henri Martell (1641-1728), a French naval commander who served under Louis XIV and played a significant role in several military campaigns.

These are just a few examples of the rich history and legacy associated with the surname Martell, a name that has left an indelible mark across various fields, from military and literature to commerce and exploration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Martell

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Martell.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Martell was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Martell has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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