This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Merlin family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Merlin Family History

Merlin Surname Meaning

French English (of Norman origin) Italian and German; Spanish (Merlín): from the Old French personal name Merlin from Latin Merlinus, a Latinized form of Welsh Myrddin devised by Geoffrey of Monmouth from the Welsh form of the Romano-British placename Moridunum ‘sea-fort’ (Carmarthen) and popularized in the Arthurian romances.

Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): metronymic from the Yiddish female personal name Merle, a pet form of Miryam (see Mirkin) with the addition of the Slavic possessive suffix -in.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Merlin family from?

You can see how Merlin families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Merlin family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Merlin families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 18 Merlin families living in Oxfordshire. This was about 23% of all the recorded Merlin's in United Kingdom. Oxfordshire had the highest population of Merlin families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Merlin surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Merlin ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Incapacitated and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Merlin. 100% of Merlin men worked as an Incapacitated and 84% of Merlin women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Merlin | 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

  • Incapacitated
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    84%
  • Housewife
    17%

What Merlin family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 13,000 census records available for the last name Merlin. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Merlin census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Merlin

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Merlin. 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 Merlin immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Merlin. For the veterans among your Merlin ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Merlin military records

You've only scratched the surface of Merlin family history

Discover More

What is the average Merlin lifespan?

Between 1957 and 2004, in the United States, Merlin life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 1964. The average life expectancy for Merlin in 1957 was 53, and 85 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Merlin

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Merlin 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 Merlin family tree

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