History of your Surname
Get access to Merritt family records.Start a free trial

Merritt Family History

Merritt Name Meaning

English: variant of Merriott Marriott or Marritt. The last of these is most often a variant of Merriott or Marriott but possibly in some instances from Middle English Marret or Merret a syncopated form of Margaret Mergeret.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Herriott, Merrick, Skerritt, Burritt, Merrill, Errett, Merrett

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Merritt family from?

You can see how Merritt families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Merritt family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Merritt families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 230 Merritt families living in New York. This was about 37% of all the recorded Merritt's in USA. New York had the highest population of Merritt families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Merritt surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Merritt ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Merritt. 17% of Merritt men worked as a Laborer and 7% of Merritt women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Merritt were Truck Driver and Housekeeper. .

View Census Data for Merritt | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    17%
  • Farmer
    16%
  • Salesman
    5%
  • Truck Driver
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    7%
  • Housewife
    6%
  • Teacher
    6%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Merritt family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 236,000 census records available for the last name Merritt. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Merritt census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Merritt

Passenger Lists

There are 16,000 immigration records available for the last name Merritt. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Merritt immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 60,000 military records available for the last name Merritt. For the veterans among your Merritt ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Merritt military records

You've only scratched the surface of Merritt family history

Discover More

What is the average Merritt lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Merritt life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Merritt in 1941 was 33, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Merritt

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Merritt family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Merritt last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial