NameCensus.

UK surname

Martinson

Son of Martin, an English patronymic surname derived from the given name Martin, which means "of Mars" or "warlike."

In the 1881 census there were 144 people recorded with the Martinson surname, ranking it #15,891 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 343, ranked #13,368, up from #15,891 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lincoln St Botolph, Luddington and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, Scarborough and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Martinson is 349 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 138.2%.

1881 census count

144

Ranked #15,891

Modern count

343

2016, ranked #13,368

Peak year

2009

349 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Martinson had 144 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,891 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 343 in 2016, ranked #13,368.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 223 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Martinson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Martinson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Martinson 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 139 #13,659
1861 historical 190 #12,520
1881 historical 144 #15,891
1891 historical 169 #16,885
1901 historical 158 #17,507
1911 historical 223 #13,951
1997 modern 296 #13,646
1998 modern 320 #13,299
1999 modern 319 #13,420
2000 modern 331 #13,045
2001 modern 321 #13,125
2002 modern 338 #12,939
2003 modern 331 #12,944
2004 modern 343 #12,616
2005 modern 313 #13,433
2006 modern 322 #13,234
2007 modern 336 #12,975
2008 modern 334 #13,142
2009 modern 349 #12,995
2010 modern 337 #13,580
2011 modern 327 #13,754
2012 modern 336 #13,376
2013 modern 334 #13,648
2014 modern 335 #13,720
2015 modern 338 #13,527
2016 modern 343 #13,368

Geography

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Where Martinsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lincoln St Botolph, Luddington, Gateshead, Corsenside and Goxhill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, Scarborough, East Riding of Yorkshire and Cardiff. 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 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
2 Luddington Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Corsenside Northumberland
5 Goxhill Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 006 North Lincolnshire
2 Scarborough 010 Scarborough
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 013 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 026 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Cardiff 009 Cardiff

Forenames

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First names often paired with Martinson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Martinson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Martinson, 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 Martinson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Martinson 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Martinson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Martinson 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

Martinson falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Martinson

The surname Martinson is of Scandinavian origin, deriving from the Old Norse name Martyn, itself a variant of the Latin name Martinus. This name ultimately traces its roots back to the Roman god of war, Mars. The suffix "son" indicates the name's patronymic nature, denoting "son of Martin."

Martinson first emerged as a surname in Norway and Sweden during the medieval period, when the use of hereditary surnames became more widespread. Early records from the 13th and 14th centuries indicate the name was particularly prevalent in coastal regions, possibly due to the influence of trade and migration.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the Martinson name was Ulf Martinson, a Norwegian landowner mentioned in the Diplomatarium Norvegicum, a collection of historical documents dating from the late 12th century. Another notable early figure was Birgitta Martinson, a Swedish noblewoman who lived in the early 15th century and was known for her philanthropic work.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, several Martinsons made their mark in various fields. Johan Martinson (1530-1602) was a Swedish clergyman and theologian who played a role in the Swedish Reformation. Brita Martinson (1572-1645), a Swedish merchant, became one of the wealthiest individuals in Stockholm through her successful trading ventures.

In more recent times, the Martinson name has been associated with several notable figures. Gunnar Martinson (1904-1994) was a Swedish author and playwright, known for his works exploring social themes. Harriette Martinson (1886-1966), an American politician, served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Idaho in the 1920s.

Another prominent bearer of the Martinson name was Harry Martinson (1904-1978), a Swedish writer and poet who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1974 for his literary works that captured the spirit of Sweden and the Swedish landscape.

While the Martinson name has its roots in Scandinavia, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in Norway and Sweden, where it emerged as a patronymic surname derived from the Old Norse name Martyn.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Martinson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Martinson 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. Lincolnshire leads with 42 Martinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.70x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 42 18.70x
Yorkshire 40 2.87x
Northumberland 27 12.92x
Durham 13 3.11x
Hertfordshire 6 6.20x
Middlesex 6 0.43x
Oxfordshire 3 3.46x
Kent 2 0.42x
Lancashire 2 0.12x
Somerset 2 0.88x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Goxhill in Lincolnshire leads with 12 Martinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2181.82x.

Place Total Index
Goxhill 12 2181.82x
Gateshead 9 28.76x
Hedley 9 10000.00x
Whitgift 9 5000.00x
Sculcoates 8 36.25x
St Martin Lincoln 8 384.62x
Yokefleet 8 16000.00x
Holy Trinity 7 20.91x
St Nicholas Lincoln 7 325.58x
Ware 6 215.83x
Bellingham 5 1428.57x
Chelsea London 5 11.81x
Epworth 5 476.19x
Corsenside 4 1212.12x
Skegness 4 625.00x
Birtley 3 1666.67x
Pishill 3 3750.00x
Swinefleet 3 500.00x
Winlaton 3 74.81x
Barrow On Humber 2 153.85x
Bathwick 2 80.00x
Faversham 2 43.76x
Garthorpe 2 740.74x
Liverpool 2 1.98x
St Michael Lincoln 2 327.87x
Byker 1 9.68x
Chollerton 1 169.49x
Clerkenwell London 1 3.02x
Elswick 1 6.00x
Fockerby 1 2500.00x
Goole 1 42.92x
Heaton 1 144.93x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 5.52x
Knottingley 1 40.82x
Nottingham St Nicholas 1 38.76x
Skelton In Howden 1 909.09x
Styford 1 2000.00x
Tynemouth 1 8.94x
Whitby 1 21.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 7
William 7
Edward 5
Robert 5
George 4
James 4
Thomas 4
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Charles 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Herbert 2
Joseph 2
Matthew 2
Thos. 2
Albert 1
Alma 1
Andres 1
Arnold 1
Charlton 1
Fredrick 1
Gerald 1
Johan 1
Michael 1
Paul 1
Percy 1
Robt. 1
Robt.W. 1
Sidney 1
Simon 1
Thompson 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Martinson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Martinson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 144 people were recorded with the Martinson surname. That placed it at #15,891 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Martinson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 343 in 2016. That gives Martinson a modern rank of #13,368.

What does the Martinson surname mean?

Son of Martin, an English patronymic surname derived from the given name Martin, which means "of Mars" or "warlike."

What does the Martinson map show?

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