Show ContentsMertens History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Mertens family

The surname Mertens 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 Mertens family

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

Mertens 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 Mertens family

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mertens Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mertens World Ranking

In the United States, the name Mertens is the 7,390th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Mertens is ranked the 5,677th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 2 And in Netherlands, the name Mertens is the 403rd popular surname with an estimated 4,032 people with that name. 3


Mertens migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mertens Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johannes Mertens, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1742 4
  • George Mertens, who landed in America in 1776
  • Christ Mertens, who landed in America in 1778 4
  • Georg Mertens, who landed in America in 1780 4
  • Jacob Mertens, who arrived in America in 1783 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Mertens Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Mertens, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1825
  • Trims Mertens, who arrived in North America in 1832-1849 4
  • H Mertens, who landed in North America in 1832-1849 4
  • Claus Mertens, aged 24, who landed in Missouri in 1840 4
  • Justine Wieland Mertens, aged 52, who landed in America in 1843 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mertens migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mertens Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Jacob Mertens, who landed in Canada in 1783
Mertens Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Christoph Mertens, who arrived in Quebec in 1850

Mertens 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:

Mertens Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Catherine Mertens, (b. 1845), aged 20, British domestic servant travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 1st January 1866 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Mertens (post 1700) +

  • William Mertens Jr., American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1944 (alternate), 1956 (alternate), 1960; Presidential Elector for New York, 1952; Candidate for Justice of New York Supreme Court 1st District, 1956
  • Kevin Mertens, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from South Carolina, 2004
  • John J. Mertens (b. 1870), American politician, Member of South Dakota State House of Representatives 40th District, 1909-12; Member of South Dakota State Senate 36th District, 1921-24
  • H. C. Mertens, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Missouri State House of Representatives from Osage County, 1933-34
  • Charles A. Mertens, American politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Erie County, 1901-02
  • Franz Mertens (1840-1927), German mathematician; he developed the eponymous Mertens function and co-developed the Meissel–Mertens constant
  • Helmut Mertens, German fighter pilot and flying ace in the Luftwaffe, during World War II, credited with 97 aerial victories, awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
  • Raymond Mertens (1933-2023), Belgian football player and manager who played as a goalkeeper (1965-1992)
  • Barbara Mertens (1968-2021), Belgian journalist and television presenter
  • René Mertens (1922-2014), Belgian racing cyclist
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bismarck
  • Kurt Mertens (1915-1941), German Matrosenhauptgefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 6
  • Otto Mertens (1915-1941), German Maschinenmaat Res. who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 6


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. "Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
  4. 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)
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  6. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details


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