Explore the Family Name Mertens
The meaning of Mertens
North German, Dutch, and Flemish: patronymic from a variant of the personal name Martin. The surname of Flemish and German origin is also found in the Walloon part of Belgium.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Mertens in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname 'Mertens' has seen a slight increase in popularity between the years 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it held the rank of 7629, which slightly bettered to 7597 by 2010, marking a marginal change of 0.42%. The count of individuals bearing this surname also rose from 4017 to 4375 during this period, an increase of 8.91%. However, the proportion per 100,000 people dropped minutely from 1.49 to 1.48, representing a dip of 0.67%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,629 | #7,597 | 0.42% |
| Count | 4,017 | 4,375 | 8.91% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.49 | 1.48 | -0.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Mertens
Concerning ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the majority of those with the surname 'Mertens' identified as White in both 2000 and 2010. In 2000, this group accounted for 96.29% but saw a slight decrease to 94.74% in 2010. The Hispanic ethnic group witnessed a significant increase, nearly doubling from 1.05% in 2000 to 2.06% in 2010. The Black population also experienced growth, albeit from a smaller base, increasing by 160% from 0.15% to 0.39%. Those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander decreased by 17.33%, while the group identifying as two or more races saw an increase of 15.43%. Lastly, the American Indian and Alaskan Native group saw their representation double from 0.15% to 0.32%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.29% | 94.74% | -1.61% |
| Hispanic | 1.05% | 2.06% | 96.19% |
| Two or More Races | 1.62% | 1.87% | 15.43% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.75% | 0.62% | -17.33% |
| Black | 0.15% | 0.39% | 160% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.15% | 0.32% | 113.33% |
Mertens ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Mertens is French & German, which comprises 49.1% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (30.5%) and Eastern European (6.3%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Ashkenazi Jewish, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Filipino & Austronesian.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| French & German | 49.1% |
| British & Irish | 30.5% |
| Eastern European | 6.3% |
| Other | 14.1% |
Possible origins of the surname Mertens
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Mertens have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 69.30% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 69.30% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 69.30% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 68.30% |
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 68.30% |
What Mertens haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Mertens is R-Z326, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-Z326 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-CTS241 and R-Z11, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Abel, Charlton, Keller, Reinhardt, Harvey, Hammond, Mohr, Forrest, Wirth, Hodgson.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Mertens surname are: H1, H, T2. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343
Your paternal lineage may be linked to King Louis XVI
The rule of France by men of the House of Bourbon began with King Henri IV in 1589 C.E. and continued until the beheading of his direct paternal descendant King Louis XVI in 1793. Several years ago, researchers analyzed a mummified head and a blood-soaked cloth that they believed might belong to the two kings, and concluded that the royal paternal line belonged to haplogroup G. In a more recent study, however, a different set of researchers tested three living men who are direct descendants of the Bourbon kings. Their efforts revealed that the male lineage of the House of Bourbon is actually a branch of haplogroup R-M405.
Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Mertens have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Mertens" Surname 44.7%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Mertens" Surname 29.0%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Mertens" Surname 20.5%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Mertens" Surname 18.9%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Mertens?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Mertens are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition