NameCensus.

UK surname

Merrell

Derived from a French place name meaning "small, pleasant lake," or from a Norman personal name meaning "famous wolf."

In the 1881 census there were 382 people recorded with the Merrell surname, ranking it #8,222 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 638, ranked #8,294, down from #8,222 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick, Kingston-on-Thames and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Huntingdonshire, Blaby and Barrow-in-Furness.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Merrell is 660 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 67.0%.

1881 census count

382

Ranked #8,222

Modern count

638

2016, ranked #8,294

Peak year

1998

660 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Merrell had 382 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,222 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 638 in 2016, ranked #8,294.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 613 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Merrell surname distribution map

The map shows where the Merrell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Merrell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Merrell over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 232 #9,296
1861 historical 261 #9,481
1881 historical 382 #8,222
1891 historical 409 #8,712
1901 historical 513 #7,901
1911 historical 613 #6,725
1997 modern 641 #7,739
1998 modern 660 #7,816
1999 modern 656 #7,893
2000 modern 641 #8,015
2001 modern 617 #8,120
2002 modern 642 #8,032
2003 modern 639 #7,921
2004 modern 637 #7,953
2005 modern 615 #8,113
2006 modern 604 #8,246
2007 modern 603 #8,319
2008 modern 623 #8,175
2009 modern 646 #8,121
2010 modern 655 #8,190
2011 modern 644 #8,215
2012 modern 632 #8,256
2013 modern 645 #8,264
2014 modern 643 #8,337
2015 modern 640 #8,290
2016 modern 638 #8,294

Geography

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Where Merrells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick, Kingston-on-Thames, London parishes, St Pancras and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Huntingdonshire, Blaby, Barrow-in-Furness, Herefordshire and Runnymede. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick Worcestershire
2 Kingston-on-Thames Surrey
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Huntingdonshire 003 Huntingdonshire
2 Blaby 013 Blaby
3 Barrow-in-Furness 002 Barrow-in-Furness
4 Herefordshire 003 Herefordshire, County of
5 Runnymede 006 Runnymede

Forenames

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First names often paired with Merrell

These lists show first names that appear often with the Merrell surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Merrell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Merrell, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Merrell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Merrell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Merrell is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Merrell is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Merrell falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Merrell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Merrell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Merrell

The surname MERRELL is of English origin, deriving from the medieval given name Meryl, an Old English name meaning "by the boundary stream." This name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Devon and Cornwall in southwestern England during the Middle Ages.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname MERRELL can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Mereville," referring to a landowner in the village of Merevill, located in the county of Somerset. This village's name is believed to have derived from the Old English words "mere," meaning boundary, and "wyll," meaning stream or spring.

During the 13th century, the surname MERRELL began to appear in various historical records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire and the Assize Rolls of Somersetshire, with spellings like "Mereville," "Merevile," and "Mervill." These variations reflect the fluid nature of spelling during that period.

Notable individuals bearing the surname MERRELL include John Merrell (c. 1520-1588), a prominent merchant and landowner in Bristol, England, who served as the city's mayor in 1582. Another significant figure was Sir William Merrell (1598-1672), a member of the English Parliament and a staunch supporter of the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.

In the 17th century, the MERRELL surname began to spread beyond the southwestern regions of England. One example is William Merrell (1629-1698), a Puritan settler who emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638 and later became a prominent landowner and civic leader in the town of Haverhill.

Another noteworthy individual was Samuel Merrell (1722-1799), a Revolutionary War soldier from Connecticut who fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Battle of Saratoga.

As the centuries progressed, the MERRELL surname continued to appear in various historical records across England and its colonies, often associated with prominent families, landowners, and influential figures in their respective communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Merrell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Merrell surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 94 Merrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.51x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 94 2.51x
Worcestershire 43 8.79x
Yorkshire 38 1.02x
Surrey 37 2.03x
Lancashire 31 0.70x
Kent 26 2.03x
Warwickshire 22 2.33x
Cheshire 19 2.30x
Cambridgeshire 15 6.32x
Shropshire 15 4.64x
Gloucestershire 6 0.82x
Northamptonshire 5 1.42x
Oxfordshire 4 1.73x
Somerset 4 0.66x
Wiltshire 4 1.21x
Herefordshire 3 1.95x
Sussex 3 0.48x
Channel Islands 2 1.80x
Leicestershire 2 0.48x
Suffolk 2 0.44x
Berkshire 1 0.36x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.44x
Derbyshire 1 0.17x
Essex 1 0.14x
Hampshire 1 0.13x
Hertfordshire 1 0.39x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.34x
Lincolnshire 1 0.17x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 18 Merrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.97x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 18 5.97x
Lambeth 17 5.21x
Aston 15 5.77x
Poplar London 14 19.80x
Tabley Superior 13 2241.38x
Hackney London 10 4.76x
Hulme 10 10.78x
Newington 10 7.23x
Adderley 9 1607.14x
Bredon 9 538.92x
Whitstable 9 143.54x
Dodderhill 8 382.78x
Newton In Makerfield 8 58.78x
Birmingham 7 2.22x
Claines 7 52.16x
Guilden Morden 7 555.56x
Haverah Park 7 8750.00x
Hindley 7 36.94x
Limehouse London 7 17.02x
St George Martyr 7 110.94x
Swinton In Rotherham 7 71.28x
Upwell 7 402.30x
Clerkenwell London 6 6.79x
Hammersmith London 6 6.50x
Mile End Old Town 6 10.15x
Sheffield 6 5.08x
St Marylebone London 6 3.00x
Bermondsey 5 4.48x
Beverley St Martin 5 80.65x
Erith 5 39.71x
Horton In Bradford 5 8.63x
Inkberrow 5 252.53x
Raunds 5 139.28x
Spotland 5 10.12x
St Thomas Apostle 5 10000.00x
Astley 4 392.16x
Bowling 4 10.88x
Cowley 4 55.40x
Cranbrook 4 73.94x
Leftwich 4 108.99x
Lyncombe Widcombe 4 25.33x
St Luke London 4 6.66x
Abberley 3 384.62x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 3 8.68x
Brimfield 3 370.37x
Camberwell 3 1.25x
Eastling 3 483.87x
Great Cheverell 3 576.92x
Tewkesbury 3 45.73x
Whistones 3 84.75x
Worcester St Peter 3 32.40x
Ashton Under Hill 2 434.78x
Clunbury 2 158.73x
Eastbourne 2 6.88x
Hopesay 2 243.90x
Leicester St Margaret 2 1.97x
Shifnal 2 22.75x
St Anne Soho London 2 9.35x
St Helier 2 5.54x
Acton 1 4.55x
Baslow With Bubnell 1 92.59x
Beckenham 1 5.98x
Bury St Edmunds St James 1 8.20x
Chart Sutton 1 113.64x
Cheltenham 1 1.76x
Crowton 1 169.49x
East Ardsley 1 31.15x
Frant 1 22.37x
Greenwich 1 1.68x
Himbleton 1 169.49x
Linslade 1 45.05x
Littleport 1 22.08x
Newbold Astbury 1 102.04x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.77x
Rotherhithe 1 2.16x
South Weald 1 15.80x
St Martin In Fields 1 4.46x
St Neots 1 24.75x
Wandsworth 1 2.77x
Watford 1 5.00x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Merrell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 19
Sarah 14
Emma 12
Elizabeth 10
Jane 9
Eliza 6
Ann 5
Martha 5
Anne 4
Ellen 4
Hannah 4
Annie 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Matilda 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Elizath. 2
Elizth. 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Flora 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Kate 2
M. 2
Maria 2
Sophia 2
Anna 1
Clara 1
E.M. 1
Eleanor 1
Ellenor 1
Ethel 1
Eugene 1
Eugenie 1
Frances 1
Helen 1
Jessie 1
Joharma 1
Lilian 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
M.A.E. 1
Mabel 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Merrell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 26
John 20
George 18
James 11
Alfred 10
Thomas 10
Arthur 7
Charles 7
Ernest 6
Frederick 5
Henry 5
Edward 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Fred 3
Harry 3
Joseph 3
Francis 2
Herbert 2
Richard 2
W. 2
Christopher 1
D.J. 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Dennis 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Elijah 1
Fredek. 1
Fredk.J. 1
H.D. 1
Harold 1
Horace 1
J. 1
Jesse 1
Joe 1
Leo 1
Lewis 1
Margaret 1
Maurice 1
Merrell 1
Michael 1
Mortimer 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Sidney 1

FAQ

Merrell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Merrell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 382 people were recorded with the Merrell surname. That placed it at #8,222 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Merrell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 638 in 2016. That gives Merrell a modern rank of #8,294.

What does the Merrell surname mean?

Derived from a French place name meaning "small, pleasant lake," or from a Norman personal name meaning "famous wolf."

What does the Merrell map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Merrell bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.