NameCensus.

UK surname

Martindale

A locational surname derived from places in England meaning "valley of a man named Martin."

In the 1881 census there were 1,715 people recorded with the Martindale surname, ranking it #2,511 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,606, ranked #2,551, down from #2,511 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Windermere, Wigan and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Knowsley and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Martindale is 2,738 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.0%.

1881 census count

1,715

Ranked #2,511

Modern count

2,606

2016, ranked #2,551

Peak year

2010

2,738 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Martindale had 1,715 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,511 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,606 in 2016, ranked #2,551.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,496 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Martindale surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Martindale surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Martindale 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 1,055 #2,653
1861 historical 1,118 #2,509
1881 historical 1,715 #2,511
1891 historical 1,942 #2,370
1901 historical 2,320 #2,342
1911 historical 2,496 #2,062
1997 modern 2,627 #2,423
1998 modern 2,704 #2,451
1999 modern 2,715 #2,454
2000 modern 2,704 #2,454
2001 modern 2,638 #2,457
2002 modern 2,711 #2,447
2003 modern 2,653 #2,448
2004 modern 2,606 #2,482
2005 modern 2,583 #2,467
2006 modern 2,563 #2,487
2007 modern 2,568 #2,504
2008 modern 2,595 #2,494
2009 modern 2,716 #2,456
2010 modern 2,738 #2,490
2011 modern 2,657 #2,530
2012 modern 2,590 #2,542
2013 modern 2,648 #2,539
2014 modern 2,633 #2,558
2015 modern 2,611 #2,554
2016 modern 2,606 #2,551

Geography

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Where Martindales are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Windermere, Wigan, Liverpool, London parishes and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Knowsley, Kirklees and South Lakeland. 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 Windermere Westmorland
2 Wigan Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 043 County Durham
2 Knowsley 005 Knowsley
3 Kirklees 049 Kirklees
4 Kirklees 052 Kirklees
5 South Lakeland 009 South Lakeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Martindale

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Martindale

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Martindale surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Martindale household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Martindale 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

Martindale is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Martindale falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Martindale 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 Martindale, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Martindale

The surname Martindale has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the place name "Marton Dale" in the county of Yorkshire. This place name itself is a combination of the Old English words "mere" meaning a lake or pool, and "tun" meaning a farmstead or village, combined with the Old Norse word "dalr" meaning a valley.

The earliest known record of the name Martindale appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey conducted by William the Conqueror to record landholdings and property values across England. The name is mentioned in reference to a landowner or tenant in the Yorkshire region.

Over the centuries, variations in spelling occurred, including Martindaile, Mertyndale, and Martyndall. These variations reflect the regional dialects and phonetic transcriptions of the time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Martindale was Sir Adam Martindale, who lived in the 13th century and held lands in Yorkshire. Another notable figure was John Martindale, a English Puritan clergyman and writer, born in 1611 and known for his religious works.

In the 16th century, the Martindale family was prominent in the Lake District region of northern England, where they held significant land and property. During this period, the village of Martindale in Cumbria was named after the family.

The surname Martindale also has a presence in Scotland, where it is believed to have been introduced by English settlers. One notable Scottish bearer of the name was Alexander Martindale, born in 1634, who served as a minister in the Church of Scotland.

Other individuals of historical significance with the surname Martindale include William Martindale (1619-1677), an English Jesuit priest and writer; Thomas Martindale (1768-1825), an English architect known for his work in London; and Cyril Martindale (1879-1963), a prominent English Roman Catholic priest and author.

Throughout its history, the surname Martindale has maintained a strong connection to its locational roots, reflecting the influence of place names and regional dialects on the development of English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Martindale families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Martindale 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. Lancashire leads with 661 Martindales recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.32x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 661 3.32x
Westmorland 219 59.43x
Durham 162 3.25x
Cumberland 159 11.01x
Yorkshire 131 0.79x
Middlesex 122 0.73x
Hertfordshire 58 5.02x
Surrey 33 0.40x
Cheshire 30 0.81x
Staffordshire 25 0.44x
Northumberland 20 0.80x
Dumfriesshire 15 4.05x
Bedfordshire 13 1.50x
Devon 11 0.32x
Warwickshire 10 0.24x
Derbyshire 7 0.27x
Renfrewshire 7 0.54x
Essex 5 0.15x
Berkshire 4 0.32x
Lincolnshire 4 0.15x
Gloucestershire 3 0.09x
Hampshire 3 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.13x
Shropshire 3 0.21x
Somerset 3 0.11x
Royal Navy 2 1.00x
Anglesey 1 0.34x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.10x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.09x
Dorset 1 0.09x
Kent 1 0.02x
Norfolk 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 64 Martindales recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.30x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 64 5.30x
Wigan 56 20.14x
Eccleston In Prescot 55 55.06x
Stanhope 44 85.42x
Toxteth Park 40 5.94x
Preston 38 7.14x
Undermilbeck 37 304.53x
West Derby 25 4.29x
Watford 23 25.67x
Whitwell Selside 23 1597.22x
Alston 22 82.71x
Abbots Langley 21 122.31x
Barrow In Furness 21 7.76x
Crosthwaite Lyth 20 451.47x
Pemberton 20 25.21x
Everton 19 3.00x
Manningham 18 8.79x
Ulverston 18 31.06x
Blackburn 16 3.02x
Little Bolton 16 6.25x
Newton In Makerfield 16 26.26x
Birkenhead 15 5.08x
St Marylebone London 15 1.68x
Stanwix 15 128.31x
Islington London 14 0.86x
Millom 14 31.65x
Openshaw 13 13.95x
Upper Allithwaite 13 1326.53x
Whitby 13 23.21x
Applethwaite 12 109.19x
Bampton 12 385.85x
Cleator 12 19.97x
Hugill 12 533.33x
Adlington 11 59.04x
Bishopwearmouth 11 2.57x
Helsington 11 550.00x
Over Darwen 11 6.92x
Stockton On Tees 11 4.57x
Whinfell 11 1111.11x
Appleby St Michael 10 120.77x
Cheetham 10 6.74x
Coundon Grange 10 91.32x
Hunslet 10 3.86x
Hutton Soil 10 454.55x
Ince In Makerfield 10 10.80x
Lancaster 10 8.45x
Leeds 10 1.07x
Penrith 10 18.75x
Poulton Le Fylde 10 141.64x
Ryton 10 57.05x
York St Cuthbert 10 65.75x
Acton 9 9.16x
Bushey 9 32.70x
Chirton 9 15.94x
Egton Cum Newland 9 155.71x
Grinsdale 9 1343.28x
Hawkshead Monk Coniston 9 129.87x
Limehouse London 9 4.89x
Ravenstonedale 9 175.10x
Satterthwaite 9 346.15x
Battersea 8 1.30x
Bermondsey 8 1.60x
Gateshead 8 2.14x
Handsworth 8 5.73x
Newington 8 17.48x
St Pancras London 8 0.59x
Stranton 8 4.76x
Strickland Kettle 8 227.27x
West Newton Allonby 8 159.05x
Willesden 8 5.06x
Willington 8 27.75x
Wolsingham 8 17.59x
Cathcart 7 9.96x
Chadderton 7 7.20x
Crook Billy Row 7 10.96x
Great Bolton 7 2.66x
Langdale 7 166.27x
Milton Bryant 7 546.88x
Widnes 7 4.88x
Witherslack 7 223.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 141
Elizabeth 74
Sarah 64
Jane 54
Margaret 41
Ann 38
Alice 36
Hannah 30
Ellen 23
Agnes 19
Annie 17
Isabella 16
Martha 14
Catherine 11
Eliza 11
Edith 10
Emily 10
Emma 10
Harriet 10
Ada 9
Frances 8
Kate 7
Elizth. 6
Esther 6
Charlotte 5
Clara 5
Eleanor 5
Rose 5
Louisa 4
Lucy 4
Maria 4
Susan 4
Agness 3
Anna 3
Bertha 3
Betty 3
Caroline 3
Dinah 3
Dorothy 3
Fanny 3
Margret 3
Rebecca 3
Sophia 3
Beatrice 2
Christiana 2
Deborah 2
Jessie 2
Laura 2
Lydia 2
M. 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 122
William 112
Thomas 67
James 57
Joseph 52
Henry 42
George 34
Robert 26
Edward 17
Charles 15
Richard 14
Samuel 13
Nathan 12
Isaac 10
Arthur 9
Alfred 8
David 8
Thos. 8
Wm. 8
Harry 7
Mark 7
Peter 7
Ralph 7
Walter 7
Albert 6
Anthony 6
Jonathan 6
Benjamin 5
Edwin 5
Frederick 5
Fredk. 5
Whitfield 5
Ernest 4
Fred 4
Geo. 4
Tom 4
Frank 3
Jno. 3
Nicholas 3
Percy 3
Robt. 3
Timothy 3
Alexander 2
Christopher 2
Edmund 2
Emerson 2
Featherstone 2
Francis 2
Herbert 2
Jos. 2

FAQ

Martindale surname: questions and answers

How common was the Martindale surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,715 people were recorded with the Martindale surname. That placed it at #2,511 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Martindale surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,606 in 2016. That gives Martindale a modern rank of #2,551.

What does the Martindale surname mean?

A locational surname derived from places in England meaning "valley of a man named Martin."

What does the Martindale map show?

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