Surname Martel - Meaning and Origin
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N. Martel
read moreMartel: What does the surname Martel mean?
The last name Martel comes from an old French word for 'hammer', referring to someone skilled in the use of this tool. It was particularly common in the region of Franche-Comte in Eastern France, and may have been an occupation name for a blacksmith. There are also several places in France bearing the name of 'Martel', suggesting a geographic origin for the name.
It is probable that the family name Martel was originally derived from a personal name, but the exact person and time of origin is not known. Over time, Martel has spread beyond Franche-Comte and is now common in many parts of Europe.
In contemporary times, people with the Martel surname can be found in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, and France, among other countries. Martel is also a very common surname in Quebec, Canada, where it was brought by French immigrants.
In modern times, the last name Martel continues to have a variety of connotations. Many may view it as a tribute to the Martel family members who were skilled workers and artisans in the distant past, while some may use the name to indicate they descend from a long line of metalworkers. Generally a strong and proud name, 'Martel' continues to be a common and well-respected surname in these times.
Order DNA origin analysisMartel: Where does the name Martel come from?
The last name Martel is most commonly found in France and other French-speaking countries, including Canada. In France, it is the 119th most common surname according to data from 2019. In Canada, the last name is also quite common, ranking 67th in the same year.
In Quebec in particular, the last name Martel is one of the province's top 20 surnames. It is also seen in other parts of Canada, including Ontario, where it ranks in the top 150 surnames.
The last name appears less often in the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Martel ranked 8,380th in popularity in 2020, which is roughly the same as in 2019.
Martel may be derived from the Latin name Martinus, a form of Martin, which in turn was derived from Mars, the Roman god of war. The surname is thought to signify a brave and combative man. The French form of the name is derived from the feminine form Martelle.
Variations of the surname Martel
The surname Martel is of French origin, and stems from the Latin/Germanic marthius or martius, which means war-like or devoted to war. Variants of this surname include Martell, Martelle, Martelli, Martello, Martil, Martill, Martilo, Martino, Marti, Marton, and Martyn.
The surname Martel is also originally seen in some forms as Martellin, Martelin, Martelinne, Martelinot or Martelon. In some cases, it is also seen as Martiles or Martles.
Other spellings and variants of Martel include Martal, Martelli, Martelot, Martello, Mari, Marielle, Marillier, Martiel, Martial, Martine, Marton, Marty, Mariutti, Marlet, and Mortell.
In some cases, Martel can be seen as a prefix, such as in names like Kenamatel, Jehanematel (Jeanmartel) or Desmafizematel (Desmarteaux). It can also be seen as a suffix, in names such as Bribematel (Briamartel) or Tancramatel (Tancremartel).
Variations of Martel can also be seen in many other languages and cultures, such as Martelos in Portuguese, Martello in Italian, Marthaler or Martinaler in German, and Martella in Spanish. The Martels of Dutch and Flemish origin are sometimes spelled as Martens. Martel can also sometimes be seen as a first name, such as in the French name Marie-Martel.
Famous people with the name Martel
- Jake Martel: Australian professional basketball player
- Yann Martel: Canadian author of Life of Pi
- Joel Martel: Quebecois businessman and philanthropist
- Suzanne Martel: Canadian author of children’s books
- Ludovic Martel: French footballer
- Ciaran Martel: Irish actor and former model
- Pierre-Paul Martel: French classical music composer
- Léon Martel: French fencer
- Gustave Martel: Canadian politician
- André Martel: French-Canadian general contractor and real estate developer
- Chantal Martel: Canadian jurist
- Mario Martel: Argentine footballer
- Adolphe Martel: Haitian jurist and diplomat
- Paul-André Martel: Canadian professor of mathematics
- Marie-Hélène Martel: Canadian figure skater
- Lionel Martel: French singer and actor
- Jade Martel: Canadian actress
- Claude Martel: French businessman
- David Martel: French film director
- Maggi Martel: American musician and singer-songwriter