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

Merrin, 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 Merrin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Merrin in America

Merrin is the 67747th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Merrin surname appeared 291 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 Merrin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Merrin 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 Merrin

The surname Merrin has its roots in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word 'mere,' meaning a boundary or border, combined with the suffix '-ing,' denoting a family or group of people. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to individuals living near a boundary or border region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1176, where a person named William Merring is mentioned. This document provides valuable insight into the taxation records of the time and serves as a significant historical reference for the name's existence.

During the medieval period, the name took on various spellings, including Merryng, Merringe, and Merryn, reflecting the fluid nature of name transcription in those times. It is also worth noting that the name shares similarities with places like Marrington in Shropshire and Merrington in County Durham, potentially indicating a connection to these locations.

In the 16th century, records show the presence of the Merrin family in the county of Yorkshire. One notable individual was John Merrin, born in 1547 in Ripon, Yorkshire. He was a prominent merchant and landowner, leaving behind a significant legacy in the region.

Another historical figure bearing the Merrin surname was Thomas Merrin, born in 1621 in Lincolnshire. He was a renowned scholar and author, known for his works on theology and philosophy. His writings contributed significantly to the intellectual discourse of the time.

Moving forward to the 18th century, we find Elizabeth Merrin (1734-1810), a respected philanthropist from Nottinghamshire. She dedicated her life and wealth to supporting various charitable causes, leaving a lasting impact on her community.

In the 19th century, the name gained further prominence with the birth of William Merrin (1843-1912), a celebrated architect from London. He was responsible for designing several iconic buildings, including the St. Paul's Cathedral in London, which stands as a testament to his architectural genius.

Finally, it is worth mentioning John Merrin (1890-1957), a renowned poet and writer from Yorkshire. His poetic works, often inspired by the natural beauty of his homeland, earned him critical acclaim and a place in the literary canon of his era.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Merrin

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

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 Merrin 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 Merrin 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 Merrin was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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