Show ContentsMarten History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Marten family

The surname Marten was first found in Oldenburg in Lower Saxony where the name Martin was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. They declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region. They branched into many houses, and their contributions were sought by many leaders in their search for power.

Early History of the Marten family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Marten research. Another 118 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1595, 1635, 1651, 1671 and 1699 are included under the topic Early Marten History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Marten Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Martin, Martinn, Martins, Martinnes, Martinns, Marttin, Marttins, Marttines, Martines, Martinss, Marrtin, Marrttin, Martine, Marttine and many more.

Early Notables of the Marten family

Notables of the time included

  • Friderich Martens, (1635 - 1699), a German physician and naturalist, his book "Spitzbergische oder Groenlandische Reise-Beschreibung, gethan im Jahre 1671" became a reference work for many decades

Marten Ranking

In the United States, the name Marten is the 16,437th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Marten migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Marten Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Swager Marten, aged 34, who landed in New York in 1654 2
  • Abraham Marten, who arrived in Maryland in 1661 2
  • William Marten, who arrived in Virginia in 1696 2
Marten Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Adam Marten, who landed in New York in 1709 2
  • Stoffel Marten, who arrived in New York in 1709 2
  • David Marten, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1727 aboard the ship "Molley John Hodgeson" 2
  • Michel Marten, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1792 2
Marten Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Christian Marten, who landed in Texas in 1840-1850 2
  • Sophie Charlotte Marten, aged 27, who landed in America in 1843 2
  • John F Marten, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1870 2
  • Mr. Thomas H. Marten, (b. 1866), aged 25, Cornish miner departing from Liverpool aboard the ship "City of Chicago" arriving in the United States on 4 May 1891 3
Marten Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Ben Marten, who arrived in Arkansas in 1903 2
  • Mr. Richard Raymond Marten, (b. 1894), aged 10, Cornish settler, from Fowey, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Celtic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 5th June 1904 en route to New York, USA 4

Australia Marten migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Marten Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Frances Marten who was convicted in Kent, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Edward" on 23rd April 1834, arriving in Tasmania, (Van Diemen's Land) 5
  • Mr. Francis Marten, (b. 1827), aged 22, Cornish Labourer from Ponsanooth, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "General Palmer" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 10th April 1849 6
  • Mr. Francis Marten, (b. 1827), aged 22, Cornish labourer departing from Plymouth21st December 1848 aboard the ship "General Palmer" arriving in Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia on 10th April 1849 7
  • Miss Caroline Marten, (b. 1829), aged 29, Cornish dressmaker departing from Liverpool on 16th September 1858 aboard the ship "Shooting Star" arriving in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 11th December 1858 8
  • Mr. Fred H. Marten, (b. 1852), aged 35, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Almora" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 8th March 1887 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Marten migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Marten Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Harriet Marten, aged 14, a servant, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Lady Nugent" in 1850

Contemporary Notables of the name Marten (post 1700) +

  • John Thomas Marten (b. 1951), American jurist, Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Kansas (2017-)
  • James Marten (b. 1984), American former football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders, Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins.
  • Tom Marten, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kansas, 1972 10
  • Ulrich Marten (b. 1956), West German professional tennis player
  • William George Marten (1845-1907), English cricketer
  • Sir Harry Neil Marten PC (1916-1985), British Conservative Party politician
  • Maritza Martén García (b. 1963), Cuban four-time gold medalist discus thrower
  • Sir Clarence Henry Kennett Marten KCVO (1872-1948), Provost of Eton and the private tutor of Queen Elizabeth II
  • Barbara Marten (b. 1947), British actress, known for playing Eve Montgomery in Casualty
  • Alfred Marten (1829-1910), English politician and barrister
  • ... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  4. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th January 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/edward
  6. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, May 30). Ships' Passenger Lists of Arrivals in New South Wales on (1828 - 1842, 1848 - 1849) [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1838_on.pdf
  7. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_victoria.pdf
  8. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_victoria.pdf
  9. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_queensland.pdf
  10. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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