Martins

Martins is a surname of Portuguese origin. It is derived from the given name Martin and functions as a patronymic surname meaning “son of Martin” or “Martinho” in Portuguese. The form Martins is common in Portugal and Brazil and among Portuguese-speaking communities worldwide, reflecting medieval naming practices and the spread of Portuguese culture during the era of exploration and colonization. With global migration, bearers of the name appear in many countries, including Europe, North America, and Africa.

In addition to its use as a surname, Martins can appear as a toponym or as part of place names in Lusophone countries, reflecting historical settlement patterns and local naming traditions. The name is widespread enough to appear across various disciplines, including politics, sports, arts, and science, particularly in Portugal, Brazil, Angola, and other Portuguese-speaking regions.

Notable individuals with the surname Martins come from diverse fields, such as athletics, literature, music, and public life, illustrating the name’s broad geographic and professional distribution. The surname is also found among diaspora communities in other parts of the world, where it has contributed to cultural and social networks within Brazilian, Portuguese, and Lusophone communities.

In ornithology, martins are among the common names for several species of swallows in the subfamily Hirundininae. The term is most familiar in North America for the purple martin (Progne subis); more generally, martins can be used to refer to multiple related species of swallows.