NameCensus.

UK surname

Martyn

A patronymic surname derived from the given name Martin, meaning "warlike" or "martial".

In the 1881 census there were 1,192 people recorded with the Martyn surname, ranking it #3,380 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,442, ranked #4,256, down from #3,380 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Broad Clist and St Columb Minor. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Martyn is 1,533 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.0%.

1881 census count

1,192

Ranked #3,380

Modern count

1,442

2016, ranked #4,256

Peak year

2000

1,533 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Martyn had 1,192 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,380 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,442 in 2016, ranked #4,256.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,312 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Martyn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Martyn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Martyn 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 1,011 #2,759
1861 historical 736 #3,710
1881 historical 1,192 #3,380
1891 historical 1,021 #4,078
1901 historical 1,281 #3,883
1911 historical 1,312 #3,635
1997 modern 1,401 #4,138
1998 modern 1,462 #4,139
1999 modern 1,488 #4,115
2000 modern 1,533 #3,990
2001 modern 1,457 #4,084
2002 modern 1,499 #4,079
2003 modern 1,474 #4,058
2004 modern 1,461 #4,082
2005 modern 1,431 #4,123
2006 modern 1,407 #4,177
2007 modern 1,417 #4,191
2008 modern 1,423 #4,209
2009 modern 1,466 #4,188
2010 modern 1,504 #4,176
2011 modern 1,481 #4,193
2012 modern 1,456 #4,179
2013 modern 1,481 #4,189
2014 modern 1,482 #4,208
2015 modern 1,467 #4,216
2016 modern 1,442 #4,256

Geography

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Where Martyns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Broad Clist, St Columb Minor and St Austell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Broad Clist Devon
4 St Columb Minor Cornwall
5 St Austell Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 030 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 019 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 002 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 039 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 024 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Martyn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Martyn

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

Martyn 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

Martyn falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Martyn

The surname Martyn has its origins in England, tracing back to the 12th century. It is derived from the ancient Latin name Martinus, which itself is rooted in the Roman god Mars, the god of war. The name Martyn likely emerged as a diminutive form of Martin, with the addition of the suffix "-yn" denoting a smaller or affectionate form.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Martyn appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Martinus" in several counties across England. This suggests that the name was already well-established in various parts of the country by the time of the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the surname Martyn appeared in various legal and administrative records, such as the Curia Regis Rolls and the Pipe Rolls. One notable individual from this period was Sir William Martyn, a knight and landholder in Somerset, who lived around 1272.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Martyn surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Devon, Somerset, and Dorset. The name was associated with several notable families, including the Martyns of Athelhampton in Dorset, who traced their ancestry back to the 13th century.

One of the most prominent individuals with the surname Martyn was Sir Henry Martyn (1512-1566), a Member of Parliament and High Sheriff of Somerset. Another notable figure was John Martyn (c. 1600-1680), an English botanist and author of the influential work "Historia Plantarum Rariorum" (History of Rare Plants).

In the 17th century, the Martyn surname gained further recognition with the exploits of Henry Martyn (1781-1812), an Anglican missionary and scholar who translated the New Testament into several languages spoken in India and Persia.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the Martyn surname continued to be well-represented across various professions and fields. John Martyn (1699-1768) was a renowned botanist and professor at the University of Cambridge, while Thomas Martyn (1735-1825) was a celebrated English entomologist and author of several works on natural history.

The surname Martyn has also been associated with several places and place names, particularly in the counties of Devon and Dorset. For example, the village of Martyn Down in Dorset and the Martyn Farm in Devon likely derived their names from early settlers with the Martyn surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Martyn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Martyn 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. Cornwall leads with 533 Martyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.29x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 533 40.29x
Devon 182 7.48x
Middlesex 140 1.20x
Surrey 75 1.32x
Lancashire 38 0.27x
Lanarkshire 36 0.95x
Kent 26 0.65x
Gloucestershire 20 0.87x
Glamorgan 18 0.88x
Hampshire 14 0.58x
Durham 10 0.29x
Lincolnshire 10 0.54x
Dorset 8 1.04x
Suffolk 8 0.56x
Northamptonshire 7 0.64x
Bedfordshire 6 0.99x
Cheshire 6 0.23x
Monmouthshire 6 0.71x
Sussex 6 0.30x
Yorkshire 6 0.05x
Berkshire 5 0.57x
Channel Islands 5 1.44x
Hertfordshire 4 0.50x
Somerset 4 0.21x
Staffordshire 4 0.10x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.42x
Essex 3 0.13x
Warwickshire 3 0.10x
Wiltshire 3 0.29x
Orkney 2 1.56x
Royal Navy 2 1.44x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.09x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.14x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.20x
Derbyshire 1 0.05x
Norfolk 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Stephen In Brannel in Cornwall leads with 58 Martyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 480.53x.

Place Total Index
St Stephen In Brannel 58 480.53x
St Austell 40 88.46x
New Monkland 33 29.54x
Padstow 26 295.79x
St Breock 25 349.65x
St Columb Minor 25 225.02x
St Dennis 24 485.83x
Stoke Damerel 23 13.51x
Hackney London 20 3.05x
Lambeth 20 1.96x
Lawhitton 20 1156.07x
St Teath 19 238.39x
Islington London 18 1.59x
North Tamerton 17 885.42x
St Minver 17 421.84x
St Enoder 15 333.33x
Saltash 14 136.45x
Crantock 13 942.03x
Bethnal Green London 12 2.36x
Camberwell 12 1.61x
Lifton 12 204.78x
St Columb Major 12 109.29x
Egloshayle 11 177.42x
Exeter Holy Trinity 11 115.43x
St Merryn 11 504.59x
Charlton Kings 10 63.05x
Croydon 10 3.16x
Perranzabuloe 10 87.64x
St George Hanover 10 6.56x
Cheltenham 9 5.09x
Clawton 9 505.62x
Llantrisant 9 17.55x
Mile End Old Town 9 4.88x
Newton 9 8.42x
Plymouth Charles The 9 8.40x
St Pancras London 9 0.96x
Tormoham 9 8.74x
Lanteglos By Fowey 8 148.70x
Roche 8 119.05x
South Petherwin 8 241.69x
St Issey 8 295.20x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 8 30.44x
Tintagel 8 222.22x
Battersea 7 1.63x
Cosgrove 7 275.59x
Feock 7 84.54x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 7 4.65x
Helston 7 50.91x
Kensington London 7 1.08x
Lanteglos 7 114.38x
Little Petherick 7 813.95x
Long Melford 7 52.91x
Morwenstow 7 216.05x
North Petherwyn 7 203.49x
Penge 7 9.38x
Rockbeare 7 370.37x
Tetcott 7 666.67x
Topsham 7 60.98x
Bramshott 6 101.52x
Hammersmith London 6 2.08x
Haslingden 6 10.45x
Luxulyan 6 136.36x
Northfleet 6 17.08x
Paddington London 6 1.40x
St Erme 6 295.57x
St Luke London 6 3.20x
Werrington 6 228.14x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 1.65x
Calstock 5 19.27x
Fulham London 5 2.95x
Gorran 5 134.41x
Ibberton 5 666.67x
Leeds 5 0.76x
Marystow 5 320.51x
Newlyn 5 88.50x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 2.67x
Poplar London 5 2.27x
Reading St Giles 5 5.81x
St Endellion 5 109.17x
Trevethin 5 6.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 78
John 71
James 26
Richard 25
Thomas 25
Charles 19
Samuel 19
George 18
Arthur 16
Henry 15
Alfred 13
Joseph 13
Edward 12
Frederick 9
Robert 8
Walter 8
Wm. 6
Harry 5
Herbert 5
Silas 5
Anthony 4
Chas. 4
Reginald 4
Sidney 4
Andrew 3
David 3
Edwin 3
Francis 3
Josiah 3
Mark 3
Thos. 3
Albert 2
Ernest 2
Fredrick 2
Gilbert 2
Philip 2
W.H. 2
Archibald 1
Benjamin 1
Bertie 1
C.J. 1
Cornelius 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Edwd.G. 1
Enoch 1
Hart 1
Horace 1
Hubert 1
Woodman 1

FAQ

Martyn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Martyn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,192 people were recorded with the Martyn surname. That placed it at #3,380 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Martyn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,442 in 2016. That gives Martyn a modern rank of #4,256.

What does the Martyn surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the given name Martin, meaning "warlike" or "martial".

What does the Martyn map show?

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