Merryfield
An English surname referring to someone who lived near a happy or cheerful field.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 514 Americans carry the last name Merryfield. That puts it at #47,966 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.15 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 666,837 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Merryfield 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
514
1 in 666,837
Census rank
#47,966
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
441
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 441 bearers of the surname Merryfield in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.15 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 47966th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Merryfield, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.2%) and Black (1.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Merryfield
The surname Merryfield originates from England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "myrige" meaning "pleasant" and "feld" meaning "field" or "open land". The name likely referred to someone who lived near a pleasant open field or meadow.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire from 1195, where it appears as "Willelmus de Murifeld". This spelling variation suggests that the name may have initially been pronounced with a longer "u" sound.
In the 13th century, the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279 mentions a "Robertus de Muryfeld". This record provides evidence of the name's continued presence in the region during this period.
The Merryfield name can also be traced back to various locations in England, such as the village of Merrifield in Somerset and the hamlet of Merefield in Cheshire. These place names may have contributed to the spread and adoption of the surname in those areas.
Notable individuals with the surname Merryfield throughout history include:
1. John Merryfield (c. 1530-1587), an English composer and organist who served at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
2. William Merryfield (1695-1766), a British soldier and landowner who fought in the War of the Austrian Succession.
3. Mary Merryfield (1784-1850), an English philanthropist and educator who established several schools for underprivileged children in London.
4. Thomas Merryfield (1816-1892), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in Bristol.
5. Alfred Merryfield (1848-1915), a British horticulturist and writer who specialized in the cultivation of daffodils and published several books on the subject.
While the surname may have evolved in its spelling over time, its roots can be traced back to the pleasant fields and meadows of medieval England, reflecting the rural origins and associations of many English surnames.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Merryfield
Among Census respondents with the surname Merryfield, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.2%) and Black (1.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Merryfield 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 Merryfield surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.4%
- Hispanic or Latino3.2%
- Black or African American1.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.1%
- Two or more races1.1%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Merryfield surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #46,839 | #47,966 | -2.4% |
| Count | 427 | 441 | 3.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.16 | 0.15 | -6.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Merryfield bearers went from 427 to 441 (+3.3% change). The surname moved down 1,127 positions in the national ranking, going from #46,839 to #47,966.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Merryfield
FAQ
Merryfield surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Merryfield?
The surname Merryfield holds position #47,966 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 514 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.15 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Merryfield surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Merryfield, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.2%) and Black (1.1%). 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.