Explore the Family Name Merrit
The meaning of Merrit
English: variant of Merritt.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Merrit in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Merrit has seen a slight decrease in popularity over a decade. In 2000, it ranked 34,503 amongst all surnames in the United States, but by 2010, it had fallen to a ranking of 36,154 – a decline of 4.79%. The actual count of people with this surname remained relatively stable, with 621 individuals bearing the name in 2000 and 620 in 2010, marking a negligible decrease of 0.16%. This equates to a proportion per 100,000 people reducing from 0.23 in 2000 to 0.21 in 2010, a drop of 8.7%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #34,503 | #36,154 | -4.79% |
| Count | 621 | 620 | -0.16% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.23 | 0.21 | -8.7% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Merrit
As for the ethnic identity associated with the Merrit surname, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows slight shifts between 2000 and 2010. Those identifying as White made up 62.64% of the Merrits in 2000, dropping slightly to 62.26% in 2010. Black individuals increased from 30.27% to 32.42% during the same period. The number of those who identified with two or more ethnicities rose significantly by 45.76%, from 1.77% to 2.58%. Individuals identifying as Hispanic dropped from 2.90% to 2.10%, a decrease of 27.59%. Meanwhile, there were no identified Merrits of Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnicity in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 62.64% | 62.26% | -0.61% |
| Black | 30.27% | 32.42% | 7.1% |
| Two or More Races | 1.77% | 2.58% | 45.76% |
| Hispanic | 2.9% | 2.1% | -27.59% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |