Surname Merret - Meaning and Origin
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Merret: What does the surname Merret mean?
The last name Merret is of English origin and it is believed to be derived from the Old French word 'maret', which refers to a marsh or a fen, a type of wetland. This suggests that the original bearers of this name might have resided by such geographical features. It is also thought to be linked to the Old English name 'Meredith' which means 'great lord'. The surname was first found in Cambridgeshire, England. Like many other surnames, over the years, it has seen numerous variations in its spelling such as Merrit, Merriott, Meriet, Meryet, Merrett, and others. It's important to note that the meanings of surnames can have many interpretations and may not fully reveal the actual ancestral professions or locations.
Order DNA origin analysisMerret: Where does the name Merret come from?
The last name Merret is of English origin. It is derived from the medieval given name "Merry," which means joyous or happy, combined with the suffix "-et," often used to create a diminutive form. Therefore, the surname roughly translates to "little Merry" or "one who is joyous." Many of these surnames evolved from nicknames; for instance, someone with a cheerful disposition might have been referred to as "Merry" in common parlance, which could later become a hereditary surname.
Like many British surnames, Merret would have diffused to various parts of the world through colonization and emigration. Today, it can be found in many English-speaking countries including the UK, the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Based on frequency, this surname remains most common in England, often in the southern and eastern counties. However, all these data may vary over time as populations move and the distribution of surnames changes.
Variations of the surname Merret
The surname Merret may have various spellings and variants due its French or English origins. Some of these include Merrett, Merritt, Meritt, Merit, Merrit, Meryet, Meret, Mered, Merritts, and Merritson.
It is derived from the Middle English name "Meryet", composed of elements "merry" meaning pleasant and "hard" which means brave, hardy. Some names such as Merrett, Meurig, Merrick, and Merricks derive from Merret given their phonetic similarity and shared origin.
In some variations, this surname can be combined with prefixes or suffixes that suggest locality or occupation, adding prefixes like "de" or "le" (French) and suffixes such as "-son" or "-man".
Surnames like Merriott, Merrill, and Merredew have potential links with Merret, due to the similar phonetic qualities and potential shared etymology in some cases. Some of these names could also derive from "Meredith", a Welsh-origin name.
A French variation might be Moret, which means little moor, and suggests geographical origin.
The spelling and pronunciation of surnames can significantly differ due to regional pronunciation and over time, which results in the creation of these numerous variants.
Famous people with the name Merret
- Samuel Merret, English jurist, historian, and estatist
- François Merret, Renaissance French physician, known for his treatise on optics
- Max Merret, German stage and film actor active during the silent film era
- Dennis Merret, English cricketer who played in 8 first-class matches from 1871 to 1876
- Paul Merrett, British chef, television presenter and food writer
- John Martin Merret, English ornithologist
- Paul Merret, French sailor, 37 times French sailing champion
- Sophie Merret, Australian road cyclist
- John Merrett, English sports journalist and broadcaster
- Charles Merrett, British politician and Member of Parliament