Surname St-Martin - Meaning and Origin
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St-Martin: What does the surname St-Martin mean?
The surname St-Martin is a French-Canadian last name that is derived from the Latin term ‘sanctum marinus’, meaning ‘of the holy sea’. The name originated in what is now known as the French region of Brittany, during the Middle Ages; Brittany at the time was a coastal region surrounded by the sea. This likely explains the origin of the name’s link to the ‘holy sea’.
As French settlers began to immigrate to Canada, the surname St-Martin became widespread in the country. The St-Martin family was prominent in the gaspe region of Quebec and parts of Maritime Canada, as many of the immigrants had come from this region of France.
Today, the surname St-Martin is one of the most common last names in Canada. Despite the fact that very few people in Canada are of French origin, St-Martin remains popular in the country. This is likely due to its long history in Canada and its connection to the French-speaking population.
Though the name has changed somewhat over the years, its French connection still remains strong. And, as many people across Canada now use this name, the St-Martin family’s connection to the ‘holy sea’ still stands.
Order DNA origin analysisSt-Martin: Where does the name St-Martin come from?
The last name St-Martin is most often found in Canada, particularly in the province of Quebec. It is thought to have originated in France, though its exact origins are unknown. Many of today’s St-Martin’s are descended from colonial French settlers who arrived in Canada during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.
Today, the most common locations for St-Martin’s are mostly concentrated in the province of Quebec. According to a study from the Canadian census in 2006, the name is most common in the city of Montreal, where it is estimated that over 70% of Canada’s St-Martin’s are located. Other major cities with high concentrations of the name include Gatineau, Quebec City, and Sherbrooke.
In the United States, the last name St-Martin is significantly less common. Though it is found in some areas, it is most often associated with immigrants from Canada.
The last name St-Martin also appears in other parts of French-speaking world, such as France and Belgium. It also appears in certain countries in the Caribbean, such as Haiti and Martinique, both of which were former colonies of France.
All in all, the last name St-Martin is a very common French-Canadian name found most often in Canada, particularly Quebec. It is also found in France, Belgium, and the Caribbean. However, it is much less common in the United States.
Variations of the surname St-Martin
The surname St-Martin has a variety of variants, spellings, and sources. ‘St-Martin’ is a French locational surname, which originated as ‘de St-Martin’. It originates from a place name in northern France, which held the same name.
Variations of spelling for the surname St-Martin include Saint-Martin, Saint Martin, Saintmartin, Saint Marin, Saintmamtin, Saint Martine, Saint Martina, and Saint Marienne. Some less common surnames from the same origin include Stmartin, Stmarmtin, Stmartine, Stmartina, and Stmarienne.
The origin of the surname St-Martin is derived from the Old Frankish word ‘mart’ which means ‘follower of Mars’. This suggests that the name was derived from the Roman name of the war god, Mars.
The surname St-Martin is also traced to other European countries like Switzerland and Italy. In Switzerland, the variation ‘St-Martin’ refers to the Swiss place name ‘Saint-Maurice-en-Valais’. In Italy, the variations ‘St-Martin’ and ‘Cicarelli’ are traced back to the same place name ‘St-Martin’, in northern Italy.
The surname St-Martin is also found in the other countries such as Germany, Belgium, and other parts of France. The German version of the surname is ‘Stemmler’, which was derived from the Old German word ‘stemme’ meaning ‘to stand guard’, indicating that the original name-bearers were guardians of the town. The Belgian version of the surname is ‘Stammel’ and the southern French version of the surname is ‘Saint-Martineau’.
Regardless of the variation, the meaning of the surname St-Martin is likely to be associated with the place name St-Martin in northern France and its associated meaning of ‘follower of Mars’.
Famous people with the name St-Martin
- Antoine St-Martin, French Canadian photographer and cinematographer
- Ludwig St-Martin, Austrian born, Canadian illustrator
- Sebastian St-Martin, Canadian actor
- Andre St-Martin, Canadian figure skater
- Jean St-Martin, Canadian political advisor and advocate
- Pierre St-Martin, French Canadian physicist
- Pascal St-Martin, Belgian football manager and player
- Francis St-Martin, Canadian poet
- Véronique St-Martin, Canadian photographer
- Sean St-Martin, Canadian cinematographer and photographer