Martian last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Martian

Of extraterrestrial origin, likely from the planet Mars.

Martian, 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 Martian surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Martian in America

Martian is the 41426th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Martian surname appeared 525 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Martian.

We can also compare 2010 data for Martian 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 41426 44497 -7.15%
Count 525 455 14.29%
Proportion per 100k 0.18 0.17 5.71%

The history of the last name Martian

The surname "MARTIAN" is an intriguing and peculiar name that has its origins in the realm of science fiction and imagination. This name does not stem from any traditional cultural or linguistic roots but rather emerged as a playful and creative moniker in modern times.

One theory suggests that the name "MARTIAN" was first adopted by individuals who held a fascination with the planet Mars and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. These individuals embraced the name as a way to express their curiosity and appreciation for the mysteries of the cosmos.

Another interpretation proposes that the name "MARTIAN" was initially used as a nickname or descriptive term for individuals who displayed an eccentric or unconventional personality, perhaps perceived as being "out of this world" or detached from societal norms.

While the name "MARTIAN" does not have a rich historical tapestry, it has gained recognition through various literary and artistic works. One notable example is the character of John Carter in the "Barsoom" series by Edgar Rice Burroughs, published in the early 20th century. In this science fiction saga, John Carter is a human transported to Mars, where he is referred to as a "Martian" by the native inhabitants.

Another well-known individual who embraced the "MARTIAN" identity was the renowned science communicator and astrophysicist, Carl Sagan. Sagan's passion for exploring the cosmos and his advocacy for the search for extraterrestrial intelligence led many to affectionately call him the "Martian."

It is worth mentioning that while the surname "MARTIAN" does not have a long ancestral lineage, it has been adopted by a few notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was George Martian, a British artist and sculptor who lived from 1892 to 1973 and was known for his abstract and avant-garde works.

In the realm of literature, there was also a writer named Vera Martian, born in 1920, who gained recognition for her science fiction stories and novels exploring the theme of human colonization on Mars.

Additionally, a figure named Michael Martian, born in 1945, made significant contributions to the field of aeronautical engineering, working on several groundbreaking projects related to space exploration and interplanetary travel.

While the surname "MARTIAN" may not have a rich historical tapestry, it has emerged as a symbol of human curiosity, imagination, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge about the cosmos. Its unique and unconventional nature has captured the hearts and minds of individuals who dare to dream beyond the boundaries of our planet.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Martian

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

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 Martian was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 81.71% 429
Non-Hispanic Black Only 9.14% 48
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 2.67% 14
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 3.81% 20

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 Martian has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 81.71% 76.92% 6.04%
Black 9.14% 16.92% -59.71%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 2.67% 1.54% 53.68%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 3.81% 2.64% 36.28%

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

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

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"Martian last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on January 12, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/martian-surname-popularity/.

"Martian last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/martian-surname-popularity/. Accessed 12 January, 2025

Martian last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/martian-surname-popularity/.

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