Explore the Family Name Merlo
The meaning of Merlo
Italian and Spanish: nickname from Italian and medieval Spanish merlo ‘blackbird’ (from Latin merula). In the Middle Ages this bird seems to have been regarded at times as foolish and gullible, and at other times as cunning and wily. In some cases the surname may have arisen as a metonymic occupational name for a bird catcher. See also Merle 1. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Jose, Mario, Arturo, Jesus, Luis, Raul, Adan, Adela, Agustin, Azucena, Baldemar, Dalila. Italian Aldo, Angelo, Carlo, Santo, Vito, Antonio, Carmela, Elvio, Enrico, Franco, Grazia, Mauro.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Merlo in the United States?
The popularity of the surname 'Merlo' has seen an increase from 2000 to 2010, according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, Merlo was ranked as the 10,848th most popular surname in the U.S., but by 2010, it had risen to the rank of 10,320. This represents a growth of approximately 4.87% in popularity over the decade. In terms of numbers, there were 2,697 individuals with the surname Merlo in 2000, and this figure increased to 3,122 by 2010, indicating a rise of around 15.76%. The proportion of people with the surname per 100,000 also increased from 1.0 to 1.06 over the ten-year period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #10,848 | #10,320 | 4.87% |
| Count | 2,697 | 3,122 | 15.76% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1 | 1.06 | 6% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Merlo
In regard to ethnicity, based on data provided by the Decennial U.S. Census, notable shifts were observed from 2000 to 2010 among those carrying the Merlo surname. While the percentage of White individuals bearing the name decreased from 75.34% to 67.81%, the Hispanic population grew significantly from 22.43% to 29.95%. Furthermore, representation from the Asian/Pacific Islander community also saw an increase, rising from 0.56% to 0.83%. A new occurrence in 2010 was the presence of individuals identifying as Black, which was not recorded in 2000. However, no individuals identified themselves as American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year while those claiming two or more races dropped to zero in 2010 after recording 1.15% in 2000.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 75.34% | 67.81% | -9.99% |
| Hispanic | 22.43% | 29.95% | 33.53% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.56% | 0.83% | 48.21% |
| Black | 0% | 0.74% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.15% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Merlo ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Merlo is Italian, which comprises 26.7% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (21.0%) and French & German (17.6%). Additional ancestries include Spanish & Portuguese, Indigenous American, Eastern European, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Filipino & Austronesian.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Italian | 26.7% |
| British & Irish | 21.0% |
| French & German | 17.6% |
| Other | 34.8% |
Possible origins of the surname Merlo
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Merlo have recent ancestry locations spanning a few countries, mostly in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 47.50% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 47.50% |
| Lancashire, United Kingdom | 47.50% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 47.50% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 47.50% |
What Merlo haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Merlo is R-P311, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-P311 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-U152 and I-Y7219, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Ferri, Fix, Gouveia, Giglio, Farias, Ribeiro, Abreu, Schuck, Grimm, Lombardi.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Merlo surname are: H1, N, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Merlo have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Merlo" Surname 41.4%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Merlo" Surname 40.9%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Merlo" Surname 18.4%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Merlo" Surname 14.5%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Merlo?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Merlo are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition