The martel Surname
martel Name Meaning and History
- English and German: from a medieval personal name, a pet form of Martin or Marta.
- English and French: metonymic occupational name for a smith or a nickname for a forceful person, from Old French martel ‘hammer’ (Late Latin martellus). Charles Martel, the grandfather of Charlemagne, gained his byname from the force with which he struck down his enemies in battle.
- Spanish and Portuguese: from Portuguese martelo, Old Spanish martel ‘hammer’ (Late Latin martellus), or an Iberianized form of the Italian cognate Martello.
Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4
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