Merriman
A nickname surname meaning “merry man” — a cheerful, lighthearted person.
The #3,908 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 33,984 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Merriman is built from Middle English merry, meaning “cheerful” or “pleasant,” plus man. In origin it was a descriptive nickname for someone known for a merry disposition, rather than a reference to an occupation or place. The surname is the same in sense as other old English nickname forms such as Goodman or Fairman.
History
The name is well attested in English surname lists and is treated by 19th-century writers as a straightforward compound nickname. It was probably established in medieval England and later spread as a hereditary surname. The related spelling Merryman also occurs, and the form has remained in use into modern times.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
19th-century surname writers grouped Merriman with other “speaking” names like Fairweather and Proudfellow because its meaning is almost instantly transparent.
From the historical record
“MERRIMAN \ (Eng.) GAyFELLow[v. Merry, MERRYMAN J and + man] MlRmTTJf- "««•"•-*(*' q.v. MERRY (Eng.) Gay, Blithe, Pleasant [M.E. merie, mine, &c., O.E. myrige] (A.-Fr.-Teut.) the French Mer(r)y, L.Lat. Medericus, O.Teut. Medric [v. under”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)