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Merritt Family History

Merritt Surname 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: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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 1891 there were 573 Merritt families living in London. This was about 23% of all the recorded Merritt's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Merritt families in 1891.
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.
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What did your Merritt ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Merritt. 10% of Merritt men worked as a General Labourer and 69% of Merritt women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Merritt were Cowman and Incapacitated.

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 1939

  • General Labourer
    10%
  • Gardener
    7%
  • Builders Labourer
    6%
  • Cowman
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

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 UK 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 UK, 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

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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

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Merritt 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.

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