NameCensus.

UK surname

Martens

A surname derived from the Germanic name Martin, referring to someone who was a servant of St. Martin.

In the 1881 census there were 19 people recorded with the Martens surname, ranking it #30,872 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 171, ranked #21,726, up from #30,872 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waverley, Torbay and Hammersmith and Fulham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Martens is 196 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 800.0%.

1881 census count

19

Ranked #30,872

Modern count

171

2016, ranked #21,726

Peak year

2013

196 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Martens had 19 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,872 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 171 in 2016, ranked #21,726.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 55 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Martens surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Martens surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Martens 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 20 #29,743
1861 historical 26 #30,677
1881 historical 19 #30,872
1891 historical 28 #32,046
1901 historical 38 #29,914
1911 historical 55 #27,313
1997 modern 117 #24,553
1998 modern 131 #23,495
1999 modern 140 #22,789
2000 modern 140 #22,752
2001 modern 133 #23,132
2002 modern 138 #23,094
2003 modern 137 #22,939
2004 modern 139 #22,891
2005 modern 157 #21,128
2006 modern 160 #21,066
2007 modern 158 #21,464
2008 modern 177 #20,169
2009 modern 186 #19,946
2010 modern 194 #19,819
2011 modern 189 #19,997
2012 modern 191 #19,802
2013 modern 196 #19,790
2014 modern 190 #20,374
2015 modern 178 #21,149
2016 modern 171 #21,726

Geography

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Where Martens' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waverley, Torbay, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Gwynedd. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waverley 015 Waverley
2 Torbay 019 Torbay
3 Hammersmith and Fulham 014 Hammersmith and Fulham
4 Kensington and Chelsea 019 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Gwynedd 002 Gwynedd

Forenames

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First names often paired with Martens

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Martens

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Martens, 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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Martens surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Martens 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Martens is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Martens 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

Martens falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Martens is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Martens

The surname Martens is believed to have originated in the Netherlands, specifically in the regions of Holland and Flanders. It is a patronymic surname, derived from the medieval personal name "Marten," which was a Dutch diminutive of the name Martin. The name Martin is thought to be derived from the Roman name Martinus, a derivative of Mars, the Roman god of war.

Martens is a common surname in the Netherlands, Belgium, and parts of northern Germany. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the 14th century in the city of Leiden, where a certain "Johannes Martens" is mentioned in a legal document from 1387.

The surname Martens is also found in the records of the wealthy merchant city of Bruges, in Flanders, during the 15th century. A notable figure from this time was Pieter Martens (c. 1440-1501), a renowned printer and publisher who established one of the earliest printing houses in the Low Countries.

In the 16th century, the Martens surname is documented in various parts of the Netherlands, including Amsterdam and Friesland. One notable individual from this period was Dirck Martensz (c. 1535-1611), a Dutch navigator and explorer who was involved in the early Dutch expeditions to the East Indies and the Arctic.

The Martens surname later spread to other parts of Europe, including England and Germany. One notable figure from this period was Georg Friedrich von Martens (1756-1821), a German lawyer and diplomat who played a significant role in the Congress of Vienna in 1815.

Another notable individual with the Martens surname was Eduard von Martens (1831-1904), a Russian jurist and diplomat who made significant contributions to the development of international law. He served as a representative for Russia at various international conferences, including the Hague Peace Conferences of 1899 and 1907.

In the Netherlands, the surname Martens has remained a prominent one, with several notable individuals bearing the name throughout history. One such person was Gerrit Martens (1824-1904), a Dutch painter and lithographer known for his landscapes and urban scenes. Another was Dirk Martens (1911-2006), a Dutch artist and sculptor who was known for his abstract and geometric works.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Martens families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Martens 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. Durham leads with 4 Martens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.26x.

County Total Index
Durham 4 7.26x
Northumberland 3 10.89x
Essex 2 5.47x
Middlesex 2 1.08x
Kent 1 1.58x
Lanarkshire 1 1.67x
Lancashire 1 0.46x
Leicestershire 1 4.87x
Midlothian 1 4.03x
Norfolk 1 3.51x
Somerset 1 3.35x
Sussex 1 3.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hart in Durham leads with 3 Martens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2307.69x.

Place Total Index
Hart 3 2307.69x
Chirton 2 322.58x
Cheddar 1 666.67x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 163.93x
Glasgow 1 9.40x
Great Yarmouth 1 42.37x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 41.84x
Leith North 1 2000.00x
Leyton 1 158.73x
Mile End Old Town 1 34.25x
North Shields 1 181.82x
Sheepshed 1 357.14x
Sompting 1 2500.00x
St Marylebone London 1 10.11x
Thornton In Fylde 1 208.33x
West Ham 1 12.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ellie 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Marion 1
Mary 1
Pauline 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Aloysius 1
August 1
C. 1
Charles 1
Ditlef 1
Gustave 1
Heindrich 1
John 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Martens households.

FAQ

Martens surname: questions and answers

How common was the Martens surname in 1881?

In 1881, 19 people were recorded with the Martens surname. That placed it at #30,872 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Martens surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 171 in 2016. That gives Martens a modern rank of #21,726.

What does the Martens surname mean?

A surname derived from the Germanic name Martin, referring to someone who was a servant of St. Martin.

What does the Martens map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Martens 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.