The vast movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought the Martend family name to the British Isles. Martend comes from the Latin name Martinus, which is a derivative of Mars, who was the Roman god of fertility and war. The popularity of the name Martin is due to Saint Martin de Tours, who was one of the best known saints in the Western World. With the spread of Christianity, people named their children after saints in the hope that the children might enjoy that saint's patronage. Martin is also one of the few saints' names, other than the names of Old English saints, found in England before the Norman Conquest. [1]
The surname Martend was first found in Pembrokeshire. "Martin, Sire of Tour, four miles from Bayeux, came over with William of Normandy in 1066; and conquered the territory of Kemeys in Pembrokeshire. It was erected into a Paltime Barony, which he governed as Lord Marcher, having his castle at Newport, where its ruins still exist. " [2]
"The famous Martin de Tours, who came over from Normandy with the Conqueror was distinguished at the battle of Hastings. Subsequently he acquired by conquest, as one of the Lords Marcher, a large district in Pembrokeshire, called Cemaes or Kemes, and became Palatine Baron thereof, exercising within his territory, subject to feudal homage to the King, all the jura regalia which, at that period, appertained to the crown of the English monarch, He made Newport the head of his Palatinate, and there erected his castle, the ruins of which still exist." [3]
Later, some of the family were found in early times at Westmeston in Sussex. "The church is principally in the early English style, with a plain Norman arch between the nave and chancel; it contains a rudely-constructed circular stone font, and at the east end of the south aisle is an ancient chapel, the burial-place of the Marten family." [4]
And another branch of the family was found at Anstey-Pastures in Leicestershire in early times. "This place, which was formerly parcel of the 'Ffrith of Leicestre,' and of the ancient duchy of Lancaster, was granted in the 27th of Elizabeth to Thomas Martyn and others, on a lease of 31 years, and after the expiration of that term was purchased, in the 4th of James I., from Robert, Earl of Salisbury, lord treasurer of England, by Robert Martyn, of Anstey, whose descendants have a seat here." [4]
Down in the parish of Tamerton, Cornwall, "the manor and barton of Wilsworthy, in this parish, have been in the family of Martyn for many generations. This property now belongs to the Rev. Thomas Waddon Martyn, rector of Luffingcot in Devonshire." [5]
In nearby Devon, Raddon was once held by the Martyns and Audleys in the reign of Henry VIII. [6] "Holsworthy, [ Devon has a] market which is one of great antiquity ; and the chief fair was recorded in the time of Edward I. as having belonged to the ancestors of William Martyn from time immemorial." [6]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Martend research. Another 195 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1295, 1446, 1503, 1484, 1492, 1594, 1648, 1643, 1582, 1620, 1617, 1678, 1646, 1660, 1602, 1680, 1640, 1653, 1662, 1621, 1692 and are included under the topic Early Martend History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Martin, Matin, Mattin, Martyn and others.
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir William Martyn of Athelhampton (c. 1446-1503), Sheriff of London in 1484 and Lord Mayor of London in 1492; Sir Richard Martin, Lord Mayor of London in 1594; Robert Martin, Esquire, who was made the Sheriff of the County of Radnour in 1648; Sir Thomas Martin Knight and Baronet, High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingtonshire in 1643; Christopher Martin (ca. 1582-1620), from Essex, was a Pilgrim and signer of the Mayflower Compact; Christopher Martyn (c. 1617-1678), an English politician who sat in the House...
Another 91 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Martend Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Martend family to IrelandSome of the Martend family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 81 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Martend or a variant listed above: John Martin, who came to Virginia in 1606; Christopher Martin and his wife, who arrived in America on the Mayflower in 1620; Joe Martin, who settled in Providence, Rhode Island in 1635.
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