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Merriam Family History

Merriam Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from an unidentified place called Meryham apparently in east Sussex but now lost.

The placename may derive from Old English myrig ‘merry pleasant’ + hām ‘village homestead’ or hamm ‘water meadow’.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Merriam family from?

You can see how Merriam families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Merriam family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Merriam families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 30 Merriam families living in London. This was about 64% of all the recorded Merriam's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Merriam families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Merriam 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 Merriam ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Merriam. 50% of Merriam women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Merriam | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    50%
  • Private Means
    50%

What Merriam family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 26,000 census records available for the last name Merriam. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Merriam census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Merriam

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Merriam. 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 Merriam immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 15,000 military records available for the last name Merriam. For the veterans among your Merriam ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Merriam military records

You've only scratched the surface of Merriam family history

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What is the average Merriam lifespan?

Between 1948 and 2004, in the United States, Merriam life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1957, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Merriam in 1948 was 50, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Merriam

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Merriam 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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