NameCensus.

UK surname

Merrills

From an Old English surname meaning "dweller by the marsh".

In the 1881 census there were 157 people recorded with the Merrills surname, ranking it #15,046 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 355, ranked #13,020, up from #15,046 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ordsall, Doncaster and Marton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Bassetlaw and West Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Merrills is 411 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 126.1%.

1881 census count

157

Ranked #15,046

Modern count

355

2016, ranked #13,020

Peak year

1999

411 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Merrills had 157 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,046 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 355 in 2016, ranked #13,020.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 322 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Merrills surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Merrills surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Merrills 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 56 #23,235
1861 historical 65 #25,618
1881 historical 157 #15,046
1891 historical 222 #13,854
1901 historical 322 #11,090
1911 historical 306 #11,281
1997 modern 399 #11,028
1998 modern 408 #11,187
1999 modern 411 #11,231
2000 modern 393 #11,540
2001 modern 386 #11,509
2002 modern 395 #11,542
2003 modern 369 #11,941
2004 modern 365 #12,077
2005 modern 359 #12,143
2006 modern 352 #12,396
2007 modern 349 #12,622
2008 modern 345 #12,839
2009 modern 359 #12,714
2010 modern 366 #12,800
2011 modern 361 #12,800
2012 modern 353 #12,877
2013 modern 352 #13,130
2014 modern 354 #13,153
2015 modern 353 #13,086
2016 modern 355 #13,020

Geography

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Where Merrills' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ordsall, Doncaster, Marton, Sheffield and Worksop. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Bassetlaw and West Lindsey. 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 Ordsall Nottinghamshire
2 Doncaster Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Marton Lincolnshire
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Worksop Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 020 Barnsley
2 Bassetlaw 005 Bassetlaw
3 West Lindsey 006 West Lindsey
4 West Lindsey 004 West Lindsey
5 Bassetlaw 008 Bassetlaw

Forenames

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First names often paired with Merrills

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Merrills

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Merrills, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Merrills surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Merrills household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Merrills is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Merrills 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

Merrills falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Merrills is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Merrills

The surname Merrills originated in England, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "mære," meaning "boundary" or "border," suggesting that the name was initially associated with individuals residing near a boundary or border area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Merrills can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive land survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Mereville" and "Merevill," indicating its evolution over time.

During the 13th century, the surname Merrills was particularly prevalent in the counties of Devon and Somerset in the southwestern region of England. Historical records from this period mention individuals bearing the name, including William de Mereville, who was listed as a landowner in the Hundred Rolls of Somerset in 1273.

In the 14th century, the name Merrills was associated with several notable figures, such as John Merrills, a wealthy merchant from Bristol who lived between 1320 and 1395. Another prominent individual was Sir Thomas Merrills, a knight and landowner from Dorset, who was born in 1375 and served in the military campaigns of King Henry V during the Hundred Years' War.

The 16th century saw the emergence of several variations of the surname, including Merrils, Merryls, and Merrill. One notable bearer of the name was John Merrills, a renowned scholar and theologian who lived from 1520 to 1589 and served as the Rector of the University of Oxford.

In the 17th century, the Merrills family established themselves as influential landowners in various parts of England. William Merrills, born in 1625, was a prominent figure in the county of Wiltshire and served as a magistrate and justice of the peace.

As the centuries progressed, the surname Merrills continued to spread throughout England, with numerous families bearing the name in various regions. Some notable individuals include Robert Merrills (1710-1784), a successful merchant and philanthropist from Bristol, and Elizabeth Merrills (1765-1839), a renowned author and poet celebrated for her works on nature and rural life.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Merrills families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Merrills 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. Yorkshire leads with 90 Merrills' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.93x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 90 5.93x
Nottinghamshire 52 25.19x
Lincolnshire 12 4.90x
Kent 1 0.19x
Somerset 1 0.41x
Sussex 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ordsall in Nottinghamshire leads with 15 Merrills' recorded in 1881 and an index of 949.37x.

Place Total Index
Ordsall 15 949.37x
Brightside Bierlow 13 43.68x
West Retford 10 2325.58x
Hatfield In Thorne 8 842.11x
Sheffield 8 16.56x
Babworth 7 1842.11x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 7 386.74x
Barugh 7 546.88x
Darfield 7 507.25x
Nether Hallam 7 34.10x
Doncaster 6 54.10x
Misson 6 1666.67x
Morley 6 76.05x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 5 35.36x
Blyth 5 1562.50x
Clarborough 5 324.68x
St Martin Lincoln 5 220.26x
Worksop 5 81.70x
Barnetby Le Wold 4 888.89x
Bentley Cum Arksey 4 506.33x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 12.96x
Sturton 3 1071.43x
Barmbrough 2 357.14x
Haxey 2 192.31x
North Collingham 2 408.16x
Charing 1 140.85x
Rye 1 40.82x
St Benedict Lincoln 1 303.03x
Wilton 1 156.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Sarah 7
Elizabeth 6
Emma 6
Ann 5
Eliza 5
Annie 4
Hannah 3
Martha 3
Alice 2
Lizzie 2
Ruth 2
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Clara 1
Damaris 1
Donnes 1
Easter 1
Edith 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizebeth 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Ester 1
Ethil 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Jane 1
Lily 1
Lucy 1
Marien 1
Matilda 1
May 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
William 11
George 9
Thomas 4
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Fred 3
Henry 3
James 2
Jno. 2
Joseph 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Benjiman 1
Christopher 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Fredy 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Jac. 1
Jas. 1
Jim 1
Joshua 1
Leonard 1
S.Kent 1
Sam 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Robt. 1

FAQ

Merrills surname: questions and answers

How common was the Merrills surname in 1881?

In 1881, 157 people were recorded with the Merrills surname. That placed it at #15,046 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Merrills surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 355 in 2016. That gives Merrills a modern rank of #13,020.

What does the Merrills surname mean?

From an Old English surname meaning "dweller by the marsh".

What does the Merrills map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Merrills 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.