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

Martir, 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 Martir surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Martir in America

Martir is the 20627th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Martir surname appeared 1,284 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 Martir.

We can also compare 2010 data for Martir 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 Martir

The surname MARTIR has its origins in the Spanish language and can be traced back to the medieval period in Spain. It is derived from the Spanish word "martir," which means "martyr." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon someone who had endured suffering or persecution for their religious beliefs.

During the time of the Reconquista, the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors, the name MARTIR may have been adopted by individuals or families who played a significant role in the struggle against the Muslim rulers. It could have been a way to honor their sacrifices or to commemorate their martyrdom for the Christian cause.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname MARTIR can be found in various medieval Spanish documents and records. One notable example is the mention of a certain Pedro MARTIR in the archives of the city of Seville, dated around the year 1420. This individual's name suggests that he or someone in his family lineage may have been recognized for their devotion to their faith.

Another historical reference to the name MARTIR can be found in the writings of the Spanish historian and scholar, Juan de Mariana (1536-1624). In his work, "Historia General de España," he mentions a nobleman named Alonso MARTIR, who played a role in the Reconquista and was present during the surrender of Granada in 1492, marking the end of the Moorish rule in Spain.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname MARTIR was Pedro MARTIR de Anglería (1457-1526), an Italian-born scholar and historian who served as a courtier to the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella. He is best known for his accounts of the early Spanish expeditions to the Americas, which provide valuable insights into the indigenous cultures and the European colonization efforts.

In the religious realm, Juan MARTIR (1503-1566) was a Spanish Dominican friar and theologian who was instrumental in the early evangelization efforts in the Americas. He is renowned for his commitment to the defense of indigenous rights and for his advocacy against the exploitation of Native Americans by Spanish colonizers.

Another notable figure bearing the surname MARTIR was Pedro MARTIR Calderón de la Barca (1600-1681), a celebrated Spanish playwright and poet of the Golden Age of Spanish literature. His works, such as "Life is a Dream" and "The Constant Prince," have become classics of Spanish drama and are still widely studied and performed today.

While the surname MARTIR may have originated as a religious or symbolic name, over time it has become a common surname in various Spanish-speaking regions, with bearers from diverse backgrounds and occupations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Martir

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

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

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

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