★ Be on time for a wonderful present this year · Order by Dec 8 (US) · Dec 9 (UK & AU) · All dates ›

Martens Surname Meaning & Origin

What the Martens last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.

Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Martens coat of arms for you.

Meaning and origin of the Martens last name

Meaning of the Martens last name: son of Martin. Martens is a Low German and Dutch patronymic, "son of Marten", the northern form of Martin, honouring Saint Martin of Tours. The surname is most common in Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg.

Our historical archives hold much more on the Martens name: dates, names and records of early bearers.

This overview covers the Martens name in Germany. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the Netherlands, Belgium and the United States; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.

Get your full Martens family history

Your full Martens pack adds the researched history, early records and migration. Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Martens coat of arms for you.

Martens name FAQ

What does the Martens name mean?

Son of Martin. Common variants include Marten, Mertens, Martensen.

Where does the Martens surname come from?

It originates in Germany, and is also found in the Netherlands, Belgium and the United States.

Is there a Martens coat of arms?

Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Martens crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Martens coat of arms based on historic heraldry.

Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Duden Familiennamen; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).