Surname Meric - Meaning and Origin
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Meric: What does the surname Meric mean?
The last name Meric is believed to have originated in Europe, possibly France, during the Middle Ages. The name is thought to have derived from the Latin personal name Mauricius, which was used in Europe during the Middle Ages. This name itself is thought to have derived from the Roman God Maurus, the God of war, indicating that those who bore the name were of a martial background.
The Meric surname is associated with nobility. In 1492, Louis Meric served as a marshal of the court at Amboise. During the French Revolution of 1789, the descendants of the Meric line found themselves on the wrong side of the Revolution. Consequently, the whole Meric family line subsequently left France, and eventually settled in other countries across Europe and beyond.
The name Meric is associated mainly with France, although it has now been adopted by many other countries such as Canada, Australia, and the United States. In Canada, one distinct family line can be traced back to Jean and fans his wife Louise (nee Dinet) Meric. They emigrated to Montreal, Canada from Normandy, France in the mid 17th century.
Today, the Meric name is still an important symbol of French Canadian heritage. Even though the Meric family eventually dispersed into other countries, their name still stands as a reminder of France's long and storied past.
Order DNA origin analysisMeric: Where does the name Meric come from?
The surname Meric is of Germanic origin, and is derived from the first name of a family leader. This name is quite common today, primarily in France and throughout Europe, but also in parts of other continents including Canada and the United States.
In France, the name Meric has origins going back to the year 850 AD, when it was established as a branch of the noble family of France, and is descended from a legendary knight from the 'Francs' named Merit. It has since disseminated throughout the country and gained wide currency, with many families carrying this name today.
In other parts of Europe, particularly Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, the Meric surname is less common but still present. Descendants of German immigrants to the United States often bear this surname, and in Canada, particularly around the Atlantic provinces, immigration from Europe led to a spread of the Meric name.
Outside of Europe and North America, the Meric name has been found in Australia and South Africa due to the legacy of European indentured servants to those countries. Although the Meric surname is not as well-known outside of Europe, it still remains a prominent family name in many countries.
Variations of the surname Meric
The surname Meric is relatively uncommon, and it has several variants and spellings. It is thought to be of French origin, with the name deriving from the French word "maire," meaning mayor. In French, the surname is sometimes spelled as Merick or Mericq. In some instances, it can also be found as Merickx, Merric, Merick, Merrix, Merrict, and Merricks.
In Germany, the spelling of Meric is typically Mericke or Merick. Likewise, in the Netherlands, it is often written as Merikx or Merrix. In Norway, the spelling is primarily Merick or Merric. In Sweden, it can be found as Merik or Merrik.
In the Medieval period, some of the variants of Meric were employed as elementary professions names to denote people who acted as mayors. There have also been some cases where people with surnames such as Meric and Merick are found at different times in the same location. This is likely indicative of the practice of spelling a surname differently when it was taken from one language to another.
Overall, the name Meric is historically French, and its variants and spellings are mainly derivatives of the French language. Variations such as Merickx, Merric, Merick, Merrix, Merrict, Merricks, Mericke, Merick, Merikx, Merrix, Merik, or Merrik are commonly seen.
Famous people with the name Meric
- Laurent Meric: French actress and comedian.
- Marcela Meric: Australian entrepreneur and software engineer
- Yannick Meric: French professional basketball player
- François Meric: French historian and college professor
- Jérôme Meric: French film director
- Kaan Meric: German actor
- Jelena Meric: Serbian professional basketball player
- Marin Meric: Croatian professional tennis player
- Seb Meric: French digital artist and environmental activist
- Edouard Meric: French lawyer and politician