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

Martineau, 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 Martineau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Martineau in America

Martineau is the 6737th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Martineau surname appeared 5,006 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Martineau.

We can also compare 2010 data for Martineau 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 Martineau

The surname Martineau originated in France, specifically in the region of Normandy, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French personal name "Martin," which itself comes from the Latin name "Martinus," meaning "of Mars" or "warlike." The suffix "-eau" is a common diminutive in French surnames, indicating a small or young person.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Martineau name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Martinel" and is believed to refer to a Norman landholder who accompanied William during the conquest of England.

In the 13th century, the Martineau family established themselves in the village of Martineau in Normandy, which likely took its name from an early bearer of the surname. This village is located near the town of Mortain, and the name Martineau may have been influenced by the place name "Mortain."

One notable figure bearing the Martineau surname was Jacques Martineau (1569-1653), a French Huguenot minister and theologian who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation in France. He was known for his writings on religious tolerance and his efforts to promote unity among Protestants.

Another prominent individual was Harriet Martineau (1802-1876), an English social theorist, philosopher, and writer who was considered a pioneer of sociology. She wrote extensively on topics such as political economy, social reform, and women's rights, and her work had a profound impact on Victorian-era thought.

In the United States, John Martineau (1798-1859) was a notable figure in the early days of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). He was one of the first converts to the faith and served as a missionary and leader in the church.

The Martineau family also had a presence in Canada, with one of the earliest recorded instances being Jacques Martineau (1662-1737), a French immigrant who settled in Quebec and established a successful farming operation.

Finally, Edith Martineau (1842-1909) was a British artist and author known for her watercolor paintings and her writings on art and nature. She was a member of the prestigious Royal Society of Painters in Water Colours and exhibited her work widely during her lifetime.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Martineau

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

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

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

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