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The name Mertz or Martz was taken up as a family surname in Europe several centuries ago by any number of distinct, unrelated and geographically dispersed families. Starting in the 18th Century descendants of these separate families emigrated to America where they settled in a few specific places and then in subsequent generations spread out across America.
For several of these early immigrants, we know from European records, their exact origin in Europe. For others, we do not.
For example, four separate men named Mertz came to America in 1733, 1737, 1748 and 1749 and settled not long after their respective arrivals in Berks County, Pennsylvania. These men were -- in order of their arrival -- David Mertz (who came with his sons Nicholas and Peter), Johann Heinrich (or John Henry) Mertz, Johannes Mertz and Johann Jost Mertz.
We know that David, who settled in Longswamp Township and was of the Reformed religion, came from Hangviller, Alsace. Descendants of his father and grandfather still live in or near that place today. This line originated in Switzerland where the name was spelled Merz.
We know from an American church record when he married that Johannes came from Stockhausen, Wurttemberg, Germany and that his father was also named Johannes.
And we know that John Henry and Jost Mertz, who came separately, were brothers and they came from Frankenhausen, Germany where a large family of people named Mertz live today and where the family has lived for over 300 years. John Henry Mertz settled in Rockland Township and was the founder there of Mertz Church, which is Lutheran. Johannes and Jost appear in the records of Mertz Church not long after their arrival.
In the late 1700's and into the mid-1800's, as descendants of these immigrants picked and moved to a new place in America, the name came to be spelled Martz in the new place, a spelling which stuck. Occasionally, Martz evolved further to Marts.
In addition, several immigrants, unrelated to any of the Berks County families, a;so came to America but were named Martz right from the start, including theobald Martz, progenitor of the Frederick County, MD line and Sebastian Martz, progenitor of the Rockingham County, VA line.
In addition to the information posted on this site, I also refer people interested in the Mertz or Martz family to my website:
http://www.mertzgenealogy.com/mertz_mhp.html
For several of these early immigrants, we know from European records, their exact origin in Europe. For others, we do not.
For example, four separate men named Mertz came to America in 1733, 1737, 1748 and 1749 and settled not long after their respective arrivals in Berks County, Pennsylvania. These men were -- in order of their arrival -- David Mertz (who came with his sons Nicholas and Peter), Johann Heinrich (or John Henry) Mertz, Johannes Mertz and Johann Jost Mertz.
We know that David, who settled in Longswamp Township and was of the Reformed religion, came from Hangviller, Alsace. Descendants of his father and grandfather still live in or near that place today. This line originated in Switzerland where the name was spelled Merz.
We know from an American church record when he married that Johannes came from Stockhausen, Wurttemberg, Germany and that his father was also named Johannes.
And we know that John Henry and Jost Mertz, who came separately, were brothers and they came from Frankenhausen, Germany where a large family of people named Mertz live today and where the family has lived for over 300 years. John Henry Mertz settled in Rockland Township and was the founder there of Mertz Church, which is Lutheran. Johannes and Jost appear in the records of Mertz Church not long after their arrival.
In the late 1700's and into the mid-1800's, as descendants of these immigrants picked and moved to a new place in America, the name came to be spelled Martz in the new place, a spelling which stuck. Occasionally, Martz evolved further to Marts.
In addition, several immigrants, unrelated to any of the Berks County families, a;so came to America but were named Martz right from the start, including theobald Martz, progenitor of the Frederick County, MD line and Sebastian Martz, progenitor of the Rockingham County, VA line.
In addition to the information posted on this site, I also refer people interested in the Mertz or Martz family to my website:
http://www.mertzgenealogy.com/mertz_mhp.html