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Merks Family History

Merks Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Marks, Merkl, Merk, Merkes, Berks, Merkt, Yerks, Derks, Perks, Mers

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Merks family from?

You can see how Merks families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Merks family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Merks families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there was 1 Merks family living in Renfrewshire. This was 100% of all the recorded Merks's in Scotland. Renfrewshire had the highest population of Merks families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Merks surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Merks ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Merks. 27% of Merks men worked as a Laborer and 34% of Merks women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Merks were Manager and Helper.

View Census Data for Merks | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    27%
  • Farm Laborer
    23%
  • Farmer
    18%
  • Manager
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    34%
  • Clerk
    17%
  • Farm Laborer
    17%
  • Helper
    17%

What Merks family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Merks. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Merks census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Merks

Passenger Lists

There are 331 immigration records available for the last name Merks. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Merks immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 727 military records available for the last name Merks. For the veterans among your Merks ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Merks military records

You've only scratched the surface of Merks family history

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What is the average Merks lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Merks life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1975, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Merks in 1962 was 77, and 89 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Merks

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Merks ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Merks family tree

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