Surname St Martin - Meaning and Origin
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St Martin: What does the surname St Martin mean?
The last name St Martin is of French origin and is found in branches of the Languedoc region of the country. It derives from the Medieval Latin name Sanctus Martinus, meaning Saint Martin. Saint Martin was a Roman soldier in the 4th century CE, who was known for converting to Christianity and became the patron saint of the poor. After his conversion, he opened a hospice and monastery in the area of modern day Tours, France, which became a popular pilgrimage site. Over time, many families adopted the name sanctus Martinus, which then evolved into the modern St Martin.
The last name St Martin has been used to identify people who are associated with the Catholic Church or were descendants of the original pilgrims of St Martin's church. It has also been adopted by those with religious affiliations or those who simply admired St Martin's charitable works and wanted to remember him.
St Martin is still revered in France today, and families bearing his name are usually respected and of high social status. Those with the last name St Martin often serve in public roles, and it is seen as a mark of distinction. To be a St Martin is to carry with it a sense of honour and dignity, making sure to do good works and carry on the legacy of St Martin.
Order DNA origin analysisSt Martin: Where does the name St Martin come from?
The last name St Martin is most commonly found today in France and in French-speaking countries and regions such as Canada, Haiti, parts of the United States, and other French-speaking Caribbean islands. It is also common in Belgium and Luxembourg.
In France, St Martin is the 12th most common last name, with approximately 53,000 people bearing that name. In Haiti, the last name originated during the colonization of the island by France in the 17th century and is still very common today, with over 8,000 people carrying the name.
In Canada, St Martin is not among the top 100 most common last names, but there are approximately 1,500 Canadians with the last name St Martin. In the United States, the last name is most common in Louisiana and other parts of the South, with the largest concentration of individuals with this name living in New York City.
The Caribbean islands of Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Saint Lucia also have relatively large populations of individuals with the last name St Martin; over 1,000 people on each island.
St Martin is also found in smaller numbers in other places around the world such as Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
Variations of the surname St Martin
The surname St Martin is believed to be derived from the Latin name Martinus, originally an occupational name used to refer to a servant of Mars, the Roman god of war. Over the centuries it has been altered in various ways as it spread through Europe, resulting in a range of different spellings and related surnames. These include:
Martin: the most accurate spelling of the name and the most popular globally; found in countries such as France, Scotland, Germany, the United States, and numerous others.
Martinez: derived from the ending of the Latin form of the name, and found throughout Latin America as a result; most prevalent in Mexico and Puerto Rico, as well as countries such as Spain, Italy, and Chile.
Martins: an Anglicized form of the name commonly found in Scotland and parts of England as well as in countries such as Portugal and Brazil.
Martini: derived from the Latin name Martino, this version of the name has mainly been found in Italy, Spain, and France, where it is most prevalent.
Martinelli: an Italian equivalent of the name, derived from the first name Martin and the Italian suffix -elli.
Marin: a French variant of the name derived from the shortened Latin form Marinus.
Mair: a Scottish variant believed to be related to the Latin Maurinus, and derived from the shortened form Marinus.
Mertens: a Flemish form of the name, believed to be derived from the shortened form Marten, which in turn is a variant of Martin.
Martino: an Italian cognate of the Latin name, derived from the ending -ino.
Martens: a German cognate of the Latin Martinus, derived from the ending -ens.
Marton: an English cognate of the Latin Martinus, derived from the ending -ton.
Famous people with the name St Martin
- Joseph St. Martin: French novelist and playwright.
- Victorine St. Martin: first woman to win an Olympic title.
- John St. Martin: American actor best known for roles in "Sons of Anarchy" and "The Shield".
- Paul St. Martin: Canadian actor and voice artist.
- Auger St. Martin: French journalist and historian.
- Dominique St. Martin: French businessman and former senator.
- Julien St. Martin: French football player.
- Jacques St. Martin: Canadian lawyer and former politician.
- Andre St. Martin: French-born Canadian actor.
- Jean-Marie St. Martin: Canadian composer and musician.
- Gabrielle St. Martin: French figure skater and Olympic athlete.
- Olivier St. Martin: Canadian businessman and investor.
- Pauline St. Martin: French pianist and composer.
- Jean- Pierre St. Martin: French actor and director.
- Marie-Anne St. Martin: French artist and illustrator.
- Remy St. Martin: French physicist and astronomer.
- Philippe St. Martin: Canadian entrepreneur, researcher and lecturer.
- Raoul St. Martin: French sculptor.
- Alfred St. Martin: French conductor and composer.
- Melanie St. Martin: Canadian ice dancing coach.