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

Marten, 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 Marten surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Marten in America

Marten is the 8928th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Marten surname appeared 3,666 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Marten.

We can also compare 2010 data for Marten 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 Marten

The surname Marten is of English origin, deriving from the medieval English personal name Martin. This name ultimately traces back to the Roman family name Martinus, which was derived from the name of the Roman god Mars, the god of war. The surname Marten likely emerged in England during the 12th or 13th century as a patronymic surname, meaning "son of Martin."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Marten can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like survey of landowners in England. The rolls mention a William Marten residing in Norfolk. Another early reference is in the Poll Tax records of Yorkshire from 1379, which list a Johannes Marten.

The surname Marten has also been associated with various place names throughout England. For instance, the village of Marten in Wiltshire may have contributed to the surname's development. Similarly, the Domesday Book of 1086 records a place called "Mertun" in Berkshire, which could be linked to the surname's origins.

Notably, the surname Marten has been borne by several historical figures. One of the earliest was Sir Henry Marten (c. 1562-1641), an English judge and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I. Another notable bearer was John Marten (1619-1680), an English Puritan and regicide who signed the death warrant of King Charles I.

In the realm of arts and literature, the surname Marten has been represented by individuals such as Cyril Marten (1886-1962), an English novelist and playwright. John Marten Waldo Meek (1835-1899) was an American artist known for his landscapes and portraits.

Other historical figures with the surname Marten include John Marten (1690-1768), an English architect and surveyor who designed several buildings in London, and Robert Edmund Chute Marten (1856-1936), a British Army officer who served in the Second Boer War and World War I.

The surname Marten has persisted throughout history, with various spellings and variations emerging over time, such as Marton, Mertun, and Mertyn. Despite its ancient roots, the name continues to be used across different regions and cultures, reflecting its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Marten

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

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 Marten 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 Marten 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 Marten was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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