Martin has Irish and Roman ancestors. Martin is a fairly popular surname in Ireland and across the world. It is also a common choice for a boy's given name. While the name has separate Irish origins, it was first used in Roman times. The earliest known record of the name dates to about A.D. 150. Irish Name Meaning: "The Black" or "The Brown". Names that are derivatives of these two words are often called "Black Name" or "Brown Name". The ancient Irish believed that these names were given to people because of their dark hair and skin color. They also believed that those with these names were gifted with other attributes such as wisdom, strength, and courage. History: In the early years after the birth of Christ, all children were named after religious figures. As time passed and more children were born, it became necessary to give them new names. The old names died out over time but some people have continued to use them as surnames. Today, the only people who regularly use the names Martin and Martha are members of the Catholic Church. However, during Jesus' time, these names were used by many individuals from different backgrounds. Some names that were commonly used include Mathew, Mark, Paul, and Peter. After the death and resurrection of Jesus, Christianity spread throughout Europe and the name Matthew was especially popular.