Surname Martinu - Meaning and Origin
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Martinu: What does the surname Martinu mean?
The last name Martinu is a Slavic surname, which is derived from the word “martin”, which is the old Slavic word for “warrior”. This last name was typically given to younger brothers of powerful noble families. Many variations of this surname are found throughout Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and Russia, including variants such as Martínek, Martins, Martínek, and Martynowski.
It is believed that the first Martinus, which is belived to be Przemyslaw, the Bishop of Krakow, had his last name come from this surname, which became popular among prominent families in Europe during the Middle Ages. Since then, the name has spread to other countries, including the United States, where it has been widely adopted as a common surname.
The Martinu surname is often associated with brave and strong individuals. It is said that the people with this last name are independent, courageous, and have a strong sense of justice. They are often determined people who are willing to take risks and face challenges in order to achieve their goals.
Though the origin and meaning of the last name Martinu is uncertain, it has been around for many centuries and is commonly used among Slavic and European societies. It has come to represent the courage and strength of individuals with this last name, as well as their commitment to justice and determination.
Order DNA origin analysisMartinu: Where does the name Martinu come from?
Martinu is a Czech surname, and is a common name today in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The surname has also been popularly used in other Europan countries, including France, Spain, and Italy, as well as some parts of North America and Canada.
In the United States, the last name is most commonly associated with Czech Americans or immigrants with Czech descent, though some also have Italian or French origins. Martinu is one of the top 1,000 most common surnames in the United States, with records showing that the majority of those with the name are located in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California. The surname is also popular in Europe, especially in Central and Eastern European countries, including Austria, Ukraine, and Poland.
The last name is most commonly associated with the Italian spelling of Martinu, though other variants exist, such as Martynov and Martynuk in eastern Europe. There are also alternate spellings of the name found, the most popular being Martinovic and Martinovski. Though the last name has different spellings globally, there is one unified origin - from a shortened variation of the Latin name Martinus, or the Hebrew name "Mordechai".
Variations of the surname Martinu
The surname Martinu is of French origin, which has also been adopted by many other countries, including Czech and Spanish speaking cultures. Variants of the surname Martinu include: Dominican Republic - Martino; French - Martineau, Martinel, Martinot; Spain - Martiñõ; Portugal - Martinho, Martíneo.
In French, it is the more common variant of Martin, which is a derivative of the Latin name Martinus, of Martianus, meaning "dedicated to Mars, the god of war." Depending on the location, Martinu can be found spelled in a variety of ways, from Martineau in France to Martino in the Dominican Republic more recently.
In Czech, the surname Martinu is the same as the first name Martin, so it is sometimes spelled with two n's: Martinnu as well as the traditional Martinu.
The Spanish variations follow the same pattern as the French and Czech variations. Commonly used surnames incorporating the root name are Martiñõ (Catalan) Martino (Galician and Spanish), Martíneo in Portugal.
In Italy, the surname might also be spelled as Martini or Martino. Apart from the more traditional Italian surnames, there are also several regional surnames derived from it. These include Martini' (Romagna), Martiniano 'or Martinot (Venetian).
No matter which variation or spelling one is utilizing, the core origin of the surname remains the same; "dedicated to Mars, the god of war".
Famous people with the name Martinu
- Bohuslav Martinů: a 20th-century Czech composer, music theorist and an instrumentalist.
- Charles Martinu: an American-born, French composer.
- Miloslav Martinu: an accordionist and master of cimbalom from Prague.
- Jan Martinu: a composer and organist whose compositions are primarily based on Czech folk music.
- Boris Martinu: a Czech composer and pianist, son of Miloslav Martinu and brother of Bohuslav.
- Viktor Martinu: a Czech composer and harpist, son of Miloslav Martinu and brother of Bohuslav.
- Vítězslava Kaprálová: a Czech composer and daughter of Miloslav and Anna Martinů.
- Adolf Martinu: a composer of Czech origin who was mainly known for his choral pieces and film scores.
- Pavel Martinu: a Czech composer and sculptor from Prague.
- Aleš Martinu: a Czech composer, pianist, and conductor.
- Josef Martinů: a Czech composer of beer and tavern waltzes, son of Miloslav Martinů.
- Marie Martinu: a French mezzo-soprano, daughter of Charles Martinů and wife of pianist Gaby Casadesus.