UK surname
A surname derived from the Norman French 'meriet', meaning a person who lives near a boundary or frontier.
In the 1881 census there were 143 people recorded with the Merrit surname, ranking it #15,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 39, ranked #35,484, down from #15,955 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Burghfield, Illogan and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Merrit is 164 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 72.7%.
1881 census count
143
Ranked #15,955
Modern count
39
2016, ranked #35,484
Peak year
1851
164 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Merrit surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Merrit surname density by area, 1881 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 | 164 | #12,116 |
| 1861 | historical | 157 | #14,732 |
| 1881 | historical | 143 | #15,955 |
| 1891 | historical | 94 | #24,820 |
| 1901 | historical | 89 | #24,154 |
| 1911 | historical | 82 | #24,635 |
| 1997 | modern | 41 | #33,552 |
| 1998 | modern | 41 | #33,747 |
| 1999 | modern | 42 | #33,778 |
| 2000 | modern | 42 | #33,791 |
| 2001 | modern | 39 | #33,923 |
| 2002 | modern | 40 | #34,133 |
| 2003 | modern | 35 | #34,609 |
| 2004 | modern | 38 | #34,555 |
| 2005 | modern | 36 | #34,894 |
| 2006 | modern | 40 | #34,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 41 | #34,974 |
| 2008 | modern | 41 | #35,067 |
| 2009 | modern | 43 | #35,088 |
| 2010 | modern | 41 | #35,358 |
| 2011 | modern | 43 | #35,228 |
| 2012 | modern | 42 | #35,269 |
| 2013 | modern | 40 | #35,439 |
| 2014 | modern | 37 | #35,616 |
| 2015 | modern | 36 | #35,654 |
| 2016 | modern | 39 | #35,484 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Burghfield, Illogan, London parishes, Charlton Adam, Charlton Mackrell and St Luke. 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 | Burghfield | Berkshire |
| 2 | Illogan | Cornwall |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Charlton Adam, Charlton Mackrell | Somerset |
| 5 | St Luke | London (Central Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Merrit 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 Merrit, 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 Merrit surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Merrit 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, Merrit 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 Merrit is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Merrit, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Merrit is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "merite" or the Anglo-Norman "merit," which means "merit" or "deserving." It is believed to have emerged in the 13th century as a surname given to those who were deemed deserving or meritorious.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1242, where a Robert Merrit was mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273 also referenced a John Merrit, indicating the surname's presence during that time period.
In the late 13th century, the name appeared in the Wakefield Court Rolls of Yorkshire, where a Thomas Merrit was recorded in 1275. The Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296 included a William Merrit, further solidifying the surname's existence in various regions of England.
The Merrit surname has also been linked to place names, such as Merriott in Somerset, which was derived from the Old English words "mere" (lake or pool) and "hyth" (landing place or port). This connection suggests that some individuals may have adopted the surname based on their association with this location.
Notable individuals with the surname Merrit throughout history include:
1. Thomas Merrit (c. 1575 - 1638), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Carlisle. 2. John Merrit (1650 - 1709), an English physician and writer who published works on natural history and medicine. 3. Henry Merrit (1725 - 1799), a British Army officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and was later appointed Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man. 4. Susanna Merrit (1756 - 1828), an English poet and writer known for her work "Moral and Descriptive Poems." 5. William Merrit (1788 - 1862), an American industrialist and businessman who played a significant role in the construction of the Erie Canal in New York.
While the surname Merrit has evolved over time and may have variations in spelling, such as Merrett or Merritt, its origins can be traced back to the Old French and Anglo-Norman words that signified merit or worthiness, making it a distinctive English surname with a rich historical background.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Merrit 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. Middlesex leads with 32 Merrits recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.28x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 32 | 2.28x |
| Gloucestershire | 16 | 5.81x |
| Sussex | 16 | 6.76x |
| Cornwall | 11 | 6.92x |
| Durham | 9 | 2.15x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 0.42x |
| Surrey | 7 | 1.02x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 0.50x |
| Berkshire | 6 | 5.69x |
| Staffordshire | 6 | 1.27x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 1.41x |
| Northamptonshire | 4 | 3.03x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 1.04x |
| Herefordshire | 3 | 5.21x |
| Hertfordshire | 3 | 3.10x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.42x |
| Wiltshire | 2 | 1.61x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.41x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.53x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 5.97x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.44x |
| Westmorland | 1 | 3.24x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Midhurst in Sussex leads with 7 Merrits recorded in 1881 and an index of 897.44x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Merrit surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 9 |
| Ellen | 5 |
| Eliza | 4 |
| Louisa | 4 |
| Caroline | 3 |
| Elizabeth | 3 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Maria | 3 |
| Sarah | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Angelica | 1 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Eliz. | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Georgina | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| Jenny | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Lizzie | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Marraim | 1 |
| Nelly | 1 |
| Phillipa | 1 |
| Ruth | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
| Victoria | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Merrit 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 Merrit households.
FAQ
In 1881, 143 people were recorded with the Merrit surname. That placed it at #15,955 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 39 in 2016. That gives Merrit a modern rank of #35,484.
A surname derived from the Norman French 'meriet', meaning a person who lives near a boundary or frontier.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Merrit 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.