Merritt
A surname usually taken as a variant of Merriott, originally a place-name from Somerset.
The #756 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 6,772 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Merritt is generally explained as a spelling variant of Merriott, the name of a parish in Somerset. In that view, the surname began as a locational name for someone who came from that place. Some older writers also linked it with forms such as Meryett, which likely reflect the same local name in earlier spellings.
History
The name appears in English records in several spellings, including Merriott, Merrett, and Merritt. Bardsley notes that the form Merrett still survived in Somerset, supporting the idea of a local origin there. The surname later spread beyond the West Country and became established more widely in England and, by migration, in North America.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In older surname dictionaries, Merritt was often treated as just another spelling of Merriott rather than as a separate family name.
From the historical record
“MERRINGTON. A parish in Durham. MERRITT. Probably the same as Mer- riott. 3IERR Y. Gay and cheerful in disposition. MERRYjMOWTH. From the expres- sion of that feature. This name is found in Bury Wills., &c. Camd. Soc. MERRYWEATHER. Formerly an idiomatic phrase for joy, pleasure, or delight.”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United KingdomNotable people named Merritt
- LaShawn Merritt (b. 1986)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.