Explore the Family Name Merl
The meaning of Merl
1. Jewish (Ashkenazic): from the Yiddish female personal name Merl, a pet form of Hebrew Miryam (see Mirkin). 2. German: nickname from Middle High German merl(in) ‘thrush’, for a person who had something in common with the bird. 3. Austrian German: nickname or metonymic occupational name for a carrot grower or dealer, from Middle High German morhe ‘carrot’. Some characteristic forenames: Jewish Baruch.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Merl in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Merl underwent a slight decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Merl ranked 76,208 in terms of surname popularity in the United States, but it slipped to 87,663 by 2010, indicating a 15.03% decrease in rank. In terms of actual count, there were 235 individuals with the last name Merl in 2000, which decreased to 212 by 2010, a change of -9.79%. The proportion per 100k people also saw a decline from 0.09 to 0.07, a decrease of 22.22%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #76,208 | #87,663 | -15.03% |
| Count | 235 | 212 | -9.79% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.09 | 0.07 | -22.22% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Merl
The ethnicity of individuals carrying the Merl surname predominantly identified as White, according to Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2000, 88.09% of the Merls identified as White, slightly decreasing to 87.26% in 2010. The data shows no Asian/Pacific Islander or individuals who identify with two or more races among the Merls during both periods. Likewise, no American Indian and Alaskan Natives were found with this surname. However, there was a small representation of Hispanics, at 2.98% in 2000, but this dropped to zero by 2010. Interestingly, the percentage of Black individuals with the Merl surname rose from 6.81% in 2000 to 8.02% in 2010, showing a 17.77% increase.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 88.09% | 87.26% | -0.94% |
| Black | 6.81% | 8.02% | 17.77% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 2.98% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |