Show ContentsMartindale History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Martindale belongs to the early history of Britain, it's origins lie with the Anglo-Saxons. It is a product of their having lived in the settlement of Martindale in the county of Westmorland (now part of Cumbria). The surname Martindale belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Martindale family

The surname Martindale was first found in Westmorland, (now Cumbria.) "Martindale is the name of an old Cumberland family dating back to the 14th century, and holding much property in that shire up to the 17th century and later. An ecclesiastical district in Westmorland is thus called." [1] The valley of Martindale lies close to Hawes Water in the Lake District of England. The valley is accessed across Deepdale Beck from Patterdale which is eight miles from Ambleside. The chapelry of Martindale has remained small over the centuries having only 198 people by the late 1800s. [2] Many of the family were found in Yorkshire in the 15th century. The Corpus Christi Guild (Surtees Society) listed Katerina Martyngdale in 1475 and John Markyngdale in 1476. [3]

Early History of the Martindale family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Martindale research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1623 and 1686 are included under the topic Early Martindale History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Martindale Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Martindale include Martindall, Martindale, Martyndale, Martyndall, Martyndate, Martyndell, Martynelle, Martynsdale, Martindate, Martindel, Martindell, Martinelle, Martinsdale, Martyngalle, Martyngall, Martinsdall, Martingale, Martingall, Martingdale and many more.

Early Notables of the Martindale family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • John Martindale of Newton

Martindale Ranking

In the United States, the name Martindale is the 3,703rd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. [4]


United States Martindale migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Martindale were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Martindale Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Martindale, who arrived in Maryland in 1674 [5]
  • Elizabeth Martindale, who arrived in Maryland in 1676 [5]
  • Edward and Margaret Martindale (sometimes spelled Martindell) who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1682
  • Margarett Martindale, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1682 [5]
  • Edward Martindale, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1682 [5]
Martindale Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Martindale, who arrived in New York State in 1758
Martindale Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Martindale, who arrived in New York in 1820
  • H Martindale, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1860 [5]
  • A. Martindale, aged 36, who immigrated to the United States from England, in 1892
  • Arthur Martindale, aged 25, who settled in America, in 1895
Martindale Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Emma Martindale, aged 35, who immigrated to America, in 1908
  • Annie Martindale, aged 28, who landed in America from England, in 1912
  • Edmund Martindale, aged 16, who settled in America from Lonprote, England, in 1914
  • Eliza Martindale, aged 53, who landed in America from Port of Spain, Trinidad, in 1918
  • Charles Martindale, aged 18, who landed in America, in 1919
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Martindale 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:

Martindale Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. George Martindale, British settler travelling from London, UK with 1 child aboard the ship "Assaye" arriving in Auckland, North Island, New Zealand on 26th December 1874 [6]

Contemporary Notables of the name Martindale (post 1700) +

  • Don "Wink" Martindale (b. 1963), American former defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos
  • Winston Conrad "Wink" Martindale (b. 1933), American disc jockey, radio personality, game show host
  • James B. "J.B." Martindale (1836-1904), American founder of the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, son of Elijah Martindale
  • John Henry Martindale (1815-1881), American lawyer, Union Army general, politician and New York State Attorney General
  • Henry Clinton Martindale (1780-1860), American lawyer and politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York (1823-1831) and (1833-1835), father of John Martindale
  • Elijah Martindale (1793-1874), American pioneer to Indiana from Laurens County, South Carolina, leader of the Restoration Movement
  • Margo Martindale (b. 1951), American Tony Award-nominated stage, television and film actress
  • Winston Conrad "Wink" Martindale (b. 1934), American game show host
  • Marianne Martindale, better known as Miss Martindale, an English writer and columnist
  • Dr. Louisa Martindale CBE, FRCOG, JP (1872-1966), English physician, surgeon, and writer
  • ... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Hood
  • Mr. Norman Martindale (b. 1924), English Boy 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Ashton-under-lyne, Manchester, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [7]


  1. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. 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)
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  7. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm


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