Find out how popular the last name Merla is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Merla.

Merla, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Merla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Merla in America

Merla is the 81181st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Merla surname appeared 233 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Merla.

We can also compare 2010 data for Merla to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Merla

The surname Merla has its roots in northern Italy, particularly in the region of Lombardy, and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Italian word "merla," meaning "blackbird." This surname may have initially been a nickname for someone with dark features or a raven-like complexion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Merla surname can be found in the records of the city of Brescia, dating back to the late 1200s. The name appears in various forms, such as Merlo, Merla, and Merli, reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation.

In the 14th century, the Merla family gained prominence in the city of Cremona, where they were involved in the local government and trade. Notably, Giovanni Merla (1320-1388) served as a councilman and merchant in Cremona, leaving behind a legacy of public service and entrepreneurship.

During the Renaissance period, the Merla surname spread throughout northern Italy, with notable individuals emerging in various fields. Andrea Merla (1475-1542), a renowned painter from Milan, was commissioned to decorate several churches and noble residences in the region, showcasing his artistic talents.

The Merla name also found its way into literature, with the renowned poet and playwright Gaspara Stampa (1523-1554), whose full name was Gaspara Merla Stampa, hailing from the city of Padua. Her poetic works, often exploring themes of love and passion, gained significant recognition during her lifetime and beyond.

In the 18th century, the Merla family produced several distinguished scholars and academics. Carlo Merla (1738-1812), a professor of philosophy at the University of Pavia, made significant contributions to the fields of logic and metaphysics through his writings and teachings.

As the Merla surname spread across Italy and beyond, it encountered various linguistic influences and adaptations. In some regions, the name transformed into Merli, Merlo, or even Merlin, reflecting the fluidity of surnames over time and across geographic boundaries.

While the Merla surname has a rich history rooted in northern Italy, it has since become more widespread, with individuals bearing this name found in various parts of the world, carrying on the legacy of this intriguing and evocative surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Merla

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Merla.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Merla was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Merla has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Merla was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Merla, please contact us.

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