NameCensus.

UK surname

Marten

Derived from the Middle English and Old French word "martin," referring to the common European forest mammal.

In the 1881 census there were 924 people recorded with the Marten surname, ranking it #4,156 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 485, ranked #10,205, down from #4,156 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Fletching, Greenwich and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brighton and Hove, North Devon and South Kesteven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marten is 1,019 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 47.5%.

1881 census count

924

Ranked #4,156

Modern count

485

2016, ranked #10,205

Peak year

1851

1,019 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Marten had 924 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,156 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 485 in 2016, ranked #10,205.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,019 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Marten surname distribution map

The map shows where the Marten surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Marten surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Marten over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 1,019 #2,741
1861 historical 961 #2,893
1881 historical 924 #4,156
1891 historical 976 #4,238
1901 historical 542 #7,601
1911 historical 544 #7,356
1997 modern 507 #9,204
1998 modern 508 #9,473
1999 modern 520 #9,379
2000 modern 505 #9,561
2001 modern 487 #9,656
2002 modern 498 #9,664
2003 modern 483 #9,735
2004 modern 479 #9,811
2005 modern 458 #10,077
2006 modern 473 #9,871
2007 modern 499 #9,574
2008 modern 502 #9,601
2009 modern 492 #9,979
2010 modern 505 #9,985
2011 modern 481 #10,244
2012 modern 500 #9,856
2013 modern 498 #10,049
2014 modern 501 #10,063
2015 modern 486 #10,216
2016 modern 485 #10,205

Geography

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Where Martens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Fletching, Greenwich, London parishes, St Pancras and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Brighton and Hove, North Devon, South Kesteven and York. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Fletching Sussex
2 Greenwich London (South Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brighton and Hove 005 Brighton and Hove
2 Brighton and Hove 009 Brighton and Hove
3 North Devon 005 North Devon
4 South Kesteven 005 South Kesteven
5 York 024 York

Forenames

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First names often paired with Marten

These lists show first names that appear often with the Marten surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Marten

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Marten, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Marten surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Marten household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Marten is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Marten is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Marten falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Marten is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Marten, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of 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.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Marten families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Marten surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 117 Martens recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.32x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 117 1.32x
Sussex 91 6.09x
Kent 89 2.94x
Surrey 89 2.06x
Lancashire 68 0.65x
Essex 57 3.26x
Yorkshire 46 0.52x
Durham 30 1.14x
Hertfordshire 28 4.58x
Devon 26 1.41x
Northumberland 25 1.90x
Wiltshire 19 2.42x
Lanarkshire 17 0.59x
Berkshire 16 2.40x
Cornwall 14 1.39x
Cambridgeshire 13 2.31x
Gloucestershire 13 0.75x
Hampshire 13 0.72x
Worcestershire 13 1.12x
Suffolk 11 1.02x
Warwickshire 11 0.49x
Staffordshire 10 0.33x
Cheshire 9 0.46x
Cumberland 9 1.18x
Bedfordshire 8 1.74x
Lincolnshire 8 0.56x
Norfolk 8 0.59x
Shropshire 8 1.04x
Herefordshire 5 1.38x
Midlothian 5 0.42x
Roxburghshire 4 2.49x
Somerset 4 0.28x
Angus 3 0.37x
Northamptonshire 3 0.36x
Renfrewshire 3 0.44x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.37x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.84x
Glamorgan 2 0.13x
West Lothian 2 1.50x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.28x
Channel Islands 1 0.38x
Derbyshire 1 0.07x
Dorset 1 0.17x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.57x
Monmouthshire 1 0.16x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.08x
Wigtownshire 1 0.85x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Buxted in Sussex leads with 25 Martens recorded in 1881 and an index of 427.35x.

Place Total Index
Buxted 25 427.35x
St Pancras London 24 3.36x
Camberwell 22 3.88x
Greenwich 22 15.59x
Lambeth 22 2.85x
Black Notley 21 1039.60x
Tavistock 15 71.36x
Brighton 14 4.64x
Elvet 14 73.53x
Fletching 14 209.27x
Lewes All Sts 13 218.12x
Dilworth 11 170.54x
Hackney London 11 2.21x
Woolwich 11 9.84x
Barton Upon Irwell 10 12.62x
Birmingham 10 1.34x
Burnham 10 154.80x
Hungerford 10 111.11x
Shoreditch London 10 2.60x
Greasbrough 9 77.59x
Lewes St Ann 9 176.82x
Liverpool 9 1.41x
Newington 9 2.75x
St Marylebone London 9 1.90x
Barton In Clay 8 248.45x
Bothwell 8 10.29x
Great Coggeshall 8 87.91x
Middlesbrough 8 6.99x
Richmond 8 13.21x
St Andrewthe Less 8 12.47x
Stockton On Tees 8 6.29x
West Ham 8 2.07x
Bellister 7 1666.67x
Briery Cottages 7 2500.00x
Cainham 7 197.18x
Clee With Weelsby 7 22.55x
Southcoates 7 14.35x
Uttoxeter 7 45.69x
Uxbridge 7 69.10x
Watford 7 14.77x
Barony 6 0.83x
Bishopsteignton 6 171.92x
Bothal Demesne 6 95.09x
Chilham 6 139.21x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 3.59x
Halling 6 151.52x
Paddington London 6 1.84x
Salford 6 1.94x
St Albans 6 47.92x
Tonbridge 6 5.50x
Warminster 6 34.92x
Belchamp St Paul 5 232.56x
Chippenham 5 30.41x
Clifton 5 5.69x
Croydon 5 2.08x
Dorking 5 17.24x
Dudley 5 3.55x
Evesham All Sts 5 92.59x
Hornsey 5 4.46x
Liberton 5 27.26x
Longbenton 5 8.95x
Reigate Foreign 5 10.69x
St George Bloomsbury 5 9.83x
St George In East 5 8.29x
St Neot 5 126.58x
Stansted 5 403.23x
Aylesford 4 47.73x
Chester St Oswald 4 11.29x
Great Bedwin 4 71.81x
Hamble Le Rice 4 317.46x
Hampstead London 4 2.90x
Hawthorn 4 470.59x
Holy Trinity 4 1.89x
Kelso 4 25.00x
Lee 4 9.11x
Pendleton In Salford 4 3.19x
Sandridge 4 155.64x
St George Hanover 4 3.46x
St Martins 4 370.37x
Waltham St Lawrence 4 153.85x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Marten surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Marten surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 57
John 43
George 22
James 20
Thomas 19
Henry 18
Charles 16
Robert 12
Alfred 11
Arthur 10
Joseph 10
Richard 9
Ernest 7
Frederick 7
Peter 7
Edward 6
Harry 6
Albert 5
David 5
Frank 5
Herbert 5
Walter 5
Benjamin 4
Edwin 4
Francis 4
Samuel 4
Stephen 4
Fredk. 3
Hugh 3
Sydney 3
Anthony 2
Daniel 2
Edmund 2
Felix 2
Fred 2
Frederic 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Philip 2
Robt. 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Archibald 1
Brown 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Fergus 1
Horace 1
Isaac 1
Jacob 1

FAQ

Marten surname: questions and answers

How common was the Marten surname in 1881?

In 1881, 924 people were recorded with the Marten surname. That placed it at #4,156 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Marten surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 485 in 2016. That gives Marten a modern rank of #10,205.

What does the Marten surname mean?

Derived from the Middle English and Old French word "martin," referring to the common European forest mammal.

What does the Marten map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Marten bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.