Origin of the Name Mortell
The origin of the name
Mortell was found in the allfamilycrests.com archives.
Over the centuries Surnames developed a wide number of variants. Different spellings of the same name can be traced back to an original root. Additionally when a bearer of a name emigrated it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books at their new location. Surnames were also often altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another.
Variants of the name Mortell
include Martell, Mortel, Martel, Morte and Murtel. These names are derived from the ancient Latin first name Martellus but can also be derived from the French word 'martel' meaning 'hammer', describing a hammer wielded by a warrior in combat. This name is often of English descent and is found in many ancient manuscripts in that country. A Sir William Martell and Sir John Martel were both recorded in the Harleian Roll of Chivalry in the thirteenth century. A William Martell was recorded in the 'Placita quo Warranto' Rolls in the year 1293.
Names were recorded in these ancient documents to make it easier for their overlords to collect taxes and to keep records of the population at any given time. When the overlords acquired land by either force or gifts from their rulers, they created charters of ownership for themselves and their vassals. It was by creating, maintaining and updating these reference books that they were able to maintain their authority and enforce laws.
In Irleand the names Mortell and Martell have been found in COunties Tipperary, Cork and Limerick since the thirteenth centiury and are rendered as Mairtéil in Gaelic.
The Mortell coat of arms came into existence centuries ago. The process of creating coats of arms (also often called family crests) began in the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this. The new art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own coat of arms, including all Mortell descendants.