Merrida
An uncommon surname of unknown origin and meaning.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 137 Americans carry the last name Merrida. That puts it at #151,532 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,501,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Merrida surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
137
1 in 2,501,856
Census rank
#151,532
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
108
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 108 bearers of the surname Merrida in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 151532nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Merrida, the largest self-reported group is Black at 83.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (12.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Merrida
The surname Merrida is believed to have originated in Spain during the medieval period, specifically in the region of Catalonia. It is derived from the Catalan word "merda," which means "luck" or "fortune." This suggests that the name was likely given to individuals who were considered fortunate or prosperous.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Merrida can be traced back to the late 13th century in various municipal records and census documents from the city of Barcelona. One notable example is a land deed from 1287 that mentions a certain Pere Merrida, who was a landowner in the outskirts of the city.
During the 15th century, the name Merrida gained prominence in the nearby town of Vilafranca del Penedès, where it was associated with a prominent family of merchants and vineyard owners. One member of this family, Jaume Merrida (1432-1498), was a respected wine trader who established business ties with merchants in Italy and France.
In the 16th century, the Merrida name spread beyond Catalonia as some members of the family migrated to other parts of Spain and the Americas. One such individual was Diego Merrida (1547-1621), a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico and later served as a colonial administrator in New Spain (present-day Mexico).
Another notable figure with the surname Merrida was María Merrida (1680-1756), a renowned Spanish artist and painter who was known for her religious works and portraits. Her paintings can be found in several churches and museums throughout Spain.
In the 19th century, the Merrida name gained recognition in the field of literature with the writer and poet Ramón Merrida (1822-1892). He was a prominent figure in the Catalan Renaixença, a cultural movement that aimed to revive the Catalan language and literature.
Despite its Spanish origins, the surname Merrida has also been found in other parts of the world, likely due to migration and intermarriage. For example, there are records of individuals with the name Merrida living in parts of South America, such as Argentina and Chile, as well as in the Philippines and parts of the United States.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Merrida
Among Census respondents with the surname Merrida, the largest self-reported group is Black at 83.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (12.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Merrida bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Merrida surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American83.3%
- Hispanic or Latino12.0%
- Unknown or suppressed4.6%
FAQ
Merrida surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Merrida?
The surname Merrida holds position #151,532 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 137 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Merrida surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Merrida, the largest self-reported group is Black at 83.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (12.0%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.