MARTEL
Martel is a surname of French provenance, derived from the Old French word martel meaning “hammer.” The name is traditionally regarded as an occupational designation for a blacksmith or metalworker and has also been used as a nickname for someone of noteworthy strength or forceful bearing.
The earliest documented instance of the surname occurs in the Domesday Book of 1086, where an individual named Goisfridus Martel is recorded in the county of Essex during the reign of King William I, The Conqueror.
In peacetime records, the name appears as early as 1148 in the entry for William Martel of Eynsham, Oxford, and subsequently in the 1293 Placita quo Warranto rolls as William Martell. A 1379 poll tax entry from York lists a Ricardus Martyll. Through the 16th and 17th centuries, the name surfaces in the Oxford University Register of 1574‑75 through John Martill of Dublin and in the Canterbury parish register of 1685 with Sarah Martel marrying Henry Kelsey.
Martel bearers are noted for their martial associations. The surname is recorded on several medieval chivalric rolls, including the Harleian Roll of Chivalry where Sir William Martell and Sir John Martel are listed under King Edward I; the Dering Roll, which records Richard Martel; and the Parly and St George Rolls where Sir John Martell of Essex is mentioned. The heraldic description of a Martel coat of arms in France depicts a black field with a silver crescent and three black battle hammers, symbolising martial prowess and the presumed use of an iron hammer in battle.
In contemporary times, the surname is most frequently found in France and the French‑speaking regions of Canada. According to 2019 data, Martel ranks 119th in frequency in France and 67th in Canada overall, while in Quebec it is among the top twenty surnames. In Ontario it appears within the top one hundred and fifty surnames, and in the United States it ranked 8,380th in popularity in 2020 according to the Census Bureau.
The surname has produced a number of spelling variants while retaining the core root. Commonly recognised alternates include Martell, Martellin, Martello, Martillus, and Martil. Variants in other languages such as Portuguese (Martelos) and Italian (Martello) reflect the geographical spread of the name beyond its French origins.
Typical given names associated with the Martel surname
Male
- Charles
- Clinton
- David
- Gareth
- Gavin
- George
- John
- Mark
- Neil
- Nicholas
- Simon
- Timothy
- William
Female
- Caroline
- Christina
- Gwendoline
- Helen
- Jacqueline
- Joanne
- Karen
- Katherine
- Lauren
- Lisa
- Marie
- Marjorie
- Michaela
- Rebecca
Similar and related surnames
- Myrtle
- Martell
- Marta
- Maertell
- Martall
- Marte
- Martelo
- Martelet
- Martelino
- Martella
- Martelle
- Martelli
- Martello
- Martells
- Martelly
- Martial
- Martiello
- Martil
- Martill
- Martle
- Martola
- Marttil
- Martwell
- Mertel
- Mirtle
- Mortal
- Mortali
- Mortall
- Mortel
- Mortell
- Murtell
- Murtle
- Mardel
- Marel
- Martalo
- Martelette
- Martelletti
- Martellini
- Martellotta
- Marter
- Martes
- Martlam
- Martlett
- Martlew
- Martley
- Marttila
- Martul
- Mardell
- Mardle
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Martel in...
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There are approximately 231 people named Martel in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around four in a million people in Britain are named Martel.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Martel
- Giffard Le Quesne Martel - Army officer (1889 to 1958)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.