Mervil last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Mervil

A surname derived from a French place name, possibly pertaining to marvelous or wondrous places.

Mervil, 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 Mervil surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mervil in America

Mervil is the 100302nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mervil surname appeared 180 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 Mervil.

The history of the last name Mervil

The surname Mervil is believed to have originated in France during the medieval period, specifically in the regions of Normandy and Brittany. It is derived from the Old French word "merveille," which means "wonder" or "marvel." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon someone who performed remarkable or astonishing deeds.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Mervil can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, an extensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Mervile," indicating its Norman French origins and the presence of individuals bearing this surname in England following the Norman Conquest.

In the 12th century, a notable figure named Raoul Mervil was a prominent knight who served under King Richard I of England, also known as Richard the Lionheart. Raoul Mervil is said to have distinguished himself in the Third Crusade and was granted lands in Normandy for his bravery and loyalty.

During the 13th century, the Mervil family established themselves in the region of Brittany, where they held significant estates and influence. One member of the family, Guillaume Mervil, was a renowned scholar and philosopher who studied at the University of Paris and wrote extensively on theology and metaphysics.

In the 14th century, a branch of the Mervil family settled in the region of Aquitaine, in southwestern France. Jean Mervil, born in 1321, was a respected lawyer and advisor to the Duke of Aquitaine, playing a crucial role in the legal and administrative affairs of the region.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Mervil was Étienne Mervil, a 16th-century French explorer and navigator. Born in 1541 in Normandy, Étienne Mervil is credited with leading several expeditions to the New World, including the exploration of the St. Lawrence River and the establishment of a short-lived settlement in what is now Nova Scotia.

Throughout its history, the surname Mervil has been associated with various noble and influential families in France, particularly in the regions of Normandy, Brittany, and Aquitaine. While the name has evolved over time with variations in spelling, such as Merville and Mervile, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period and the concept of wonder or marvel.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mervil

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

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 Mervil was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Black Only 97.78% 176
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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.

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

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

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"Mervil last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/mervil-surname-popularity/.

"Mervil last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/mervil-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Mervil last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/mervil-surname-popularity/.

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