E. De Stefani notes that this surname derives from the feminine given name Marta, from the Latin Martha and, in turn, from the Aramaic Marta, which meant "lady" or "mistress". It was the name of the sister of Lazarus and of Mary of Bethany. According to legend, Martha is said to have moved to Provence, where she founded a monastery, which is why veneration of the saint is typical of that area. It is an infrequent surname in Italian anthroponymy, arisen from the fixing as a surname of that feminine name.

De Stefani documents its presence in communities of the Cadore —a mountain area in the north of Veneto—, such as Santo Stefano and Lozzo, and also in Carnia, the mountainous area of northern Friuli-Venezia Giulia, in the province of Udine, where bearers are recorded at Tolmezzo and Ovaro. It appears sporadically in other localities of the region, such as Tavagnacco.

A. Bongioanni identifies it as a given name of Syriac origin, with the same meaning as Maria, whose feast day is celebrated on 29 July, and from which few surnames derive. He warns that forms such as Martelli and Martucci likewise share their origin with the name Martino, so that exclusive attribution to Marta is not certain.