UK surname
A variant spelling of the English surname Morris, derived from a nickname for Maurice.
In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Merris surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 74, ranked #33,441, down from #26,869 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rowley Regis, Birstall and All Saints Poplar. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Merris is 187 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.2%.
1881 census count
48
Ranked #26,869
Modern count
74
2016, ranked #33,441
Peak year
1891
187 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Merris surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Merris surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 55 | #23,413 |
| 1861 | historical | 154 | #14,963 |
| 1881 | historical | 48 | #26,869 |
| 1891 | historical | 187 | #15,679 |
| 1901 | historical | 59 | #27,609 |
| 1911 | historical | 96 | #23,193 |
| 1997 | modern | 71 | #30,521 |
| 1998 | modern | 68 | #31,181 |
| 1999 | modern | 67 | #31,409 |
| 2000 | modern | 73 | #30,881 |
| 2001 | modern | 66 | #31,394 |
| 2002 | modern | 65 | #31,903 |
| 2003 | modern | 67 | #31,796 |
| 2004 | modern | 65 | #32,177 |
| 2005 | modern | 63 | #32,602 |
| 2006 | modern | 62 | #33,043 |
| 2007 | modern | 64 | #33,145 |
| 2008 | modern | 66 | #33,217 |
| 2009 | modern | 67 | #33,450 |
| 2010 | modern | 67 | #33,713 |
| 2011 | modern | 69 | #33,532 |
| 2012 | modern | 71 | #33,573 |
| 2013 | modern | 74 | #33,483 |
| 2014 | modern | 75 | #33,473 |
| 2015 | modern | 74 | #33,487 |
| 2016 | modern | 74 | #33,441 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rowley Regis, Birstall, All Saints Poplar, Liverpool and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rowley Regis | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Birstall | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | All Saints Poplar | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | St Matthew Bethnal Green | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Merris surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Merris, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Merris surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Merris household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Merris is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Merris is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Merris, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Merris is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, specifically in the counties of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. It is likely derived from the Old English words "mere" meaning boundary or border, and "hris" meaning brushwood or thicket, suggesting that the name originally referred to someone who lived near a brushwood boundary or border.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Merris surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1195, where a person named William de Merys is mentioned. This early spelling variation of the name provides insight into its development over time.
In the 13th century, the Merris surname appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, with a reference to a Robert de Meris. This record suggests that the name had spread beyond its initial region of origin by this point.
During the 14th century, the Merris surname was documented in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Derbyshire from 1327, where a person named Thomas de Merys was listed. Additionally, the Poll Tax returns of Yorkshire from 1379 mentioned a John Merys.
One notable individual with the Merris surname was Sir John Merris (1462-1535), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament who served during the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII. He held estates in Derbyshire and played a significant role in local affairs.
Another individual of note was William Merris (1540-1612), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Allington in Wiltshire. He was known for his contributions to the Church of England and his involvement in local religious matters.
In the 17th century, the Merris surname was found in various parish records, including those of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham, where the baptism of a child named John Merris was recorded in 1642.
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the Merris surname continued to appear in various documents and records across England, with individuals bearing the name residing in various counties, including Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Yorkshire.
It is worth noting that while the Merris surname originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and immigration patterns over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Merris surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Staffordshire leads with 13 Merris' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.23x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 13 | 8.23x |
| Middlesex | 11 | 2.35x |
| Worcestershire | 9 | 14.73x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 1.51x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 1.08x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 1.23x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 1.34x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Poplar London in Middlesex leads with 10 Merris' recorded in 1881 and an index of 113.25x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Poplar London | 10 | 113.25x |
| Heckmondwike | 7 | 469.80x |
| Rowley Regis | 7 | 159.09x |
| Harborne | 6 | 118.58x |
| Manchester | 6 | 24.03x |
| Cakemore | 5 | 5000.00x |
| West Bromwich | 4 | 4444.44x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 5.81x |
| Roath | 1 | 27.03x |
| St John Lincoln | 1 | 1250.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Merris surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Merris surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Merris households.
FAQ
In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Merris surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 74 in 2016. That gives Merris a modern rank of #33,441.
A variant spelling of the English surname Morris, derived from a nickname for Maurice.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Merris bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.