Explore the Family Name Merhi
The meaning of Merhi
Arabic (mainly Lebanon and Syria): from a variant of the personal name Mirhi of unknown meaning. Bearers of this surname are both Muslims and Christians. Compare Murray 5.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Merhi in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Merhi has seen a significant rise in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 72,717 and by 2010, its rank jumped to 57,101, reflecting a positive change of 21.48%. The count, or number of occurrences, of this surname also increased from 249 in 2000 to 357 in 2010, marking a substantial growth rate of 43.37%. Accordingly, the proportion per 100,000 people rose by 33.33% over the same decade, moving from 0.09 to 0.12.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #72,717 | #57,101 | 21.48% |
| Count | 249 | 357 | 43.37% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.09 | 0.12 | 33.33% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Merhi
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Merhi also evolved between 2000 and 2010, as reported by the Decennial U.S. Census. The percentage of bearers identifying as White increased from 78.71% to 91.60%, an increase of 16.38%. There was a notable emergence of Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic identities at 1.4% and 3.08% respectively, which were previously unrepresented in the 2000 census. Meanwhile, those identifying with two or more races saw a decline from 18.88% to 3.08%. The Black, American Indian, and Alaskan Native groups remained unchanged, with no representation among individuals carrying the Merhi surname in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 78.71% | 91.6% | 16.38% |
| Two or More Races | 18.88% | 3.08% | -83.69% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 3.08% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 1.4% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |