Croatian Heraldry

Adam S. Eterovich

MARTINICH-MARTINIC-MARTINIS

Martinich probably means the son of Martin and is a very popular and numerous name in Croatia. It is found in great numbers at Dubrava, Gornja Podgora, Grdenci, Kutina, Split, Vucak, Zagreb and the island of Brac. At Pucisce, Brac there were 307 people in 61 families named Martinic in 1948. Martinis is found in Split, Zagreb, the islands of Brac and Vis.

Major Frane Martinich was awarded Nobility on May 15, 1845. Martinis-Martinich is of the old Croatian Nobility from Split and is remembered on Brac as Martinis-Martinich in the 1500’s.

Frank Martinich of the American Martinich’s was mining gold in the Amador of California in the 1870’s; George and John Martinich operated restaurants in pioneer San Francisco; Antonio Martinich was fishing out of Astoria, Oregon at the turn of the century while Paul and Vincent Martinis were fishing at Everett, Washington. Paul Martinis was called the King of Salmon in Washington. Vicentina Martinich married at Biloxi, Mississippi in the 1890’s.

Courtesy of the Croatian Genealogical and Heraldic Society, 2527 San Carlos Ave., San Carlos, California, 94070. Phone: 650-592-1190; E-Mail croatians@aol.com; Web www.croatians.com. Adam S. Eterovich.