The authors agree that this surname derives from the personal name Martino, which continues the Latin cognomen Martinus, itself formed on Mars Martis with the original sense of "sacred or dedicated to the god Mars". Its very broad diffusion in Italy and in Europe is explained by the prestige of the cult of Saint Martin of Tours, who died in the year 397, one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages.

E. De Felice notes that the surname shows variants reflecting different regional traditions: the patronymic forms with De or Di are proper to southern Italy, while the altered forms predominate in the north. Martinati is documented in Veneto, and the Slavic-type forms in -ich / -ic appear in the Venezia Giulia area. Some surnames of the group derive not from the personal name but from place names formed on it: Martina goes back to Martina Franca, in the Salento area —that is, the southernmost zone of the region of Puglia—, and Martinenghi to Martinengo, in the Bergamo area.

F. De Laurentiis confirms the base in the name Martinus and adds that forms such as Martin, Martinelle and Martinelli may also reflect place names built on that same name, besides the personal name.