Martins

Son of Martim — the soldier-saint, Lisbon-side.

Origin: Portuguese
Register: Portuguese family

The seat of Martins

Seat vacant

Chief

No one leads the Martins community yet. When the movement opens, you can stand for its leadership, or help elect whoever does.

Current mission

No shared goal set yet. Once Martins has leadership, it sets the public focus: a restoration, a gathering, a real-world project that helps its own.

The Martins clan is being rebuilt. Join the waiting list for the movement today, and you help decide who leads it and what it does.

Help rebuild the Martins clan →

What does the Martins name mean?

'Son of Martim' — the Portuguese Martin, from the soldier-saint Martin of Tours by way of the Latin Mars. The Portuguese twin of the Spanish Martínez.

The history of Martins

Martins descends from Martim, the Portuguese form of the immensely popular name of Saint Martin of Tours, the Roman cavalryman who shared his cloak with a beggar. The patronymic is common throughout Portugal and Brazil — the same saint, the same warrior root, as the Castilian Martínez.

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Pick any year from 500 to 1945 and any place on earth — the Martins country, or a shore no Martins ever reached. The chronicler sets the scene; the deeds are yours.

Frequently asked

What does the surname Martins mean?

'Son of Martim' — the Portuguese Martin, from the soldier-saint Martin of Tours by way of the Latin Mars. The Portuguese twin of the Spanish Martínez. Martins descends from Martim, the Portuguese form of the immensely popular name of Saint Martin of Tours, the Roman cavalryman who shared his cloak with a beggar.

Is Martins a Portuguese surname?

Yes, Martins is a Portuguese surname. Its editorial home in this atlas is Portuguese, where the historical territory and family record of the name are concentrated.

How old is the Martins surname?

Martins descends from Martim, the Portuguese form of the immensely popular name of Saint Martin of Tours, the Roman cavalryman who shared his cloak with a beggar. European hereditary surnames crystallised broadly between the 12th and 14th centuries, and the Martins name took its modern form within that long settlement.

What is the Martins family known for?

Son of Martim — the soldier-saint, Lisbon-side. Martins descends from Martim, the Portuguese form of the immensely popular name of Saint Martin of Tours, the Roman cavalryman who shared his cloak with a beggar.

Where is the Martins surname found today?

Portuguese is the primary historical home of the Martins surname. In the modern era, the name is also borne across the wider diaspora, particularly in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, where families carry the line of descent from the same Portuguese origin recorded on this page.

What does the Clan Rising page for the Martins family cover?

The Clan Rising page for the Martins family covers the meaning of the surname, the historical geography of the name and the seat of the head of the family. Each section is linked to the underlying atlas of Portuguese so the name can be read in the geography that shaped it.

Who is the head of the Martins family today?

The seat for the head of the Martins family is currently vacant on this register. Clan Rising is rebuilding the chief and family structure for the modern era, and the family page allows readers to claim the seat or pledge to the name.