Martin

Martin is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Martin comes from the Latin name Martinus, which is a derivative of Mars, who was the Roman god of fertility and war.

This surname is perhaps from three sources: (1) from the personal name; (2) a shortened form of St. Martin which see, the name of a once great family in East Lothian; and (3) possibly a curtailed form of Macmarttn, which see. Martin, clerk to the chancellor of William the Lion, appears in Angus, c. 1189-99 (RAA., 1, 80), and Martin, medicus Willelmi regis, is mentioned within the same period (ibid., I, 8). Walter Martyn was burgess of Edinbergh, 1380 (Egidii, p. 23), and Laurence Martyn, a native of Jedeworth, had letters of denisation in England, 1463 (Bain, IV, 1335). Robert Martyne was vicar of Garwok, 1497 (RAA., II, 377), Florentyne Martyn of Gybles-toune was juror on assize at Cupar, 1520 (SCHF., p. 187), and there was an old family of the name in St. Andrews in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries (Macfarlane, II, p. 183-198), of which was George Martine (163-1712), secretary to Arch Dishop Sharp. The Martins of Marshadder are descended from Martin, eldest son of Aonghas na Gaoithe (Clan Donald, III, p. 567). Abraham Martin "dit l'Ecossais" (d. 1664), was the first king's pilot on the St. Lawrence river, Canada; the Plains of Abraham, the scene of the battle in 1759, are named from the grant of the land which he received in 1617. Mairtein and Martein 1585, Mairtene 1646, Mairtin 1650, Mairton 1663, Marttine 1660, Mertaune and Mertoune 1607, Merteine 1592, Mertene 1604, Mertine 1509, Mertn 1687, Mertyne 1537, Mirtine 1688.