Query on the name "Martinez"

[Mark Mandel]

Gerald Cohen sez:

>>>>>
    Elsdon C. Smith, _American Surnames_  (Baltimore: Genealogical
Publishing Co.), 1986, says on p.33: "GOMEZ 'son of Gomo,' LOPEZ 'son
of Lope,' MENDEZ  'son of Mendel',..." ---On p. 27: "LOPEZ 'wolf'..."
<<<<<

lope 'wolf' is close enough to Latin lupus, given the diversity of Iberian
dialects (i.e., even though ModSp has lobo). But Mendel? I'm not arguing,
there are plenty of Germanic names in Romance languages (Ricardo, Eduardo,
Guillermo), but this one surprises me. And what's Gomo from?

-- Mark A. Mandel (with an "a")