Merriweather
An English surname that likely began as a nickname or descriptive name built from older words for “merry” and “weather.”
The #6,989 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 64,416 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Merriweather is an English surname whose first element is the familiar word "merry," from Old English roots meaning cheerful, pleasant, or lively. The second element is "weather," from Old English "weder," meaning weather or atmospheric conditions; in surnames, such combinations often formed descriptive bynames rather than literal references to climate. The name may originally have described a cheerful disposition, or more loosely someone associated with fair or pleasant weather, though the exact sense is not certain.
History
The surname is relatively uncommon and appears to have developed in England before later spreading to the United States. Like many old descriptive surnames, it may have undergone spelling stabilization only after centuries of variation. Modern bearers include several notable African American families, which has helped keep the name visible in the U.S.
Origin
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Fun fact
Merriweather is one of those surnames that looks like a weather report, but it is more likely a nickname-style name than a literal description of the climate.