UK surname
Derived from the Aramaic "martā" meaning "mistress" or "lady".
In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Martha surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 27, ranked #36,189, down from #32,243 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Mary Whitechapel, Jarrow and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Martha is 312 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 170.0%.
1881 census count
10
Ranked #32,243
Modern count
27
2016, ranked #36,189
Peak year
1861
312 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Martha surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Martha surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 163 | #12,156 |
| 1861 | historical | 312 | #8,127 |
| 1881 | historical | 10 | #32,243 |
| 1891 | historical | 113 | #22,162 |
| 1901 | historical | 41 | #29,602 |
| 1911 | historical | 111 | #21,392 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 6 | #37,703 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 5 | #37,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 7 | #37,581 |
| 2006 | modern | 8 | #37,481 |
| 2007 | modern | 11 | #37,217 |
| 2008 | modern | 14 | #36,950 |
| 2009 | modern | 15 | #36,942 |
| 2010 | modern | 17 | #36,862 |
| 2011 | modern | 15 | #37,030 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 19 | #36,691 |
| 2014 | modern | 20 | #36,654 |
| 2015 | modern | 24 | #36,364 |
| 2016 | modern | 27 | #36,189 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Mary Whitechapel, Jarrow, Gateshead, Roath and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Mary Whitechapel | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Jarrow | Durham |
| 3 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 4 | Roath | Glamorganshire |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Martha surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Martha, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Martha surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Martha household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Martha is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Martha is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Martha, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Martha originated in England during the Middle Ages as a locational surname. It derived from the Old English words "mær" meaning "waste" and "þorn" meaning "thorn bush", referring to someone who lived near a thorny wasteland or area overgrown with brambles.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Martha can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where it appears as "de Merthorne". This shows the name was initially rendered with the prefix "de" meaning "from" or "of", indicating a place of origin.
In the 13th century, the surname is documented in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273 as "Martha". This suggests the spelling had evolved closer to its modern form by this time.
The Martha surname is also found in medieval records from Essex, where a John Martha is mentioned in tax records from 1327. This points to the name being well-established in various regions of England by the 14th century.
A notable early bearer of the Martha surname was William Martha, a wealthy merchant from Bristol who lived from around 1420 to 1495. He is recorded as owning several properties and ships involved in the trading of wool and cloth.
Another historically significant Martha was Margaret Martha, a nun who lived from 1515 to 1598 at the Benedictine convent of St. Mary's in Winchester. She is known for her illuminated manuscripts and religious writings that survive to this day.
In the 16th century, the Martha surname appeared in Parish records from Buckinghamshire, with the marriage of Thomas Martha and Agnes Smythe recorded in 1583 in the village of Ivinghoe.
A place name associated with the Martha surname is the village of Marthorne in Worcestershire, which likely derived from the same Old English roots as the surname itself. This suggests the name may have originated as a locational identifier for people from this area.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Martha surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 7 Marthas recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.06x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 7 | 6.06x |
| Durham | 3 | 10.37x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 7 Marthas recorded in 1881 and an index of 228.01x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Martha surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Martha surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Martha households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| (Cotton) Weaver | 1 |
| (Iron) Moulder | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Martha surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 27 in 2016. That gives Martha a modern rank of #36,189.
Derived from the Aramaic "martā" meaning "mistress" or "lady".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Martha bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.