51,332 Global Merritt Family Members

Merritt Family History

This unusual English surname, found in the modern spellings of Merrett, Merritt, Merriott, Merit, Merioth, Meriott, Meritt, Meryett, has at least two possible origins. The first and the one most generally applicable to modern day West Country bearers of the name is locational, from a place called "Merriott" in Somerset. This placename, although in fact the surname recording precedes it, is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Meriet" and translates as "the gate at the boundary". This probably refers to an old parish boundary, or possibly something more specific like a "portcullis" which formed part of defensive wall...