Surname Meriweather - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Meriweather: What does the surname Meriweather mean?
The last name Meriweather is of English origin. It is a topographic surname derived from the Olde English words "mara", meaning a lake, and "weder", meaning a weather or storm. The name likely referred to one who lived near a lake prone to bad storms.
During the Middle Ages, the weather had a large impact on the North European population, whose life and livelihood relied on the weather for things such as agricultural production. As such, topographical surnames like Meriweather are prominent choices to capture a particular family’s involvement in and relationship with their natural environment.
The recorded spelling of the family name is Meriweather, which appears in the pipe rolls of the county of Norfolk in 1220. Other variants include Meriweather, Meriwether, Meriemether, and Mariwether. By the mid 16th century, the Meriweather family had established a presence in Yorkshire, and spread to the rest of England during the great migration of population in the 17th century.
The Meriweather family motto is “Vincit amor patriae”, which translates to “love of country conquers". This motto reflects the Meriweather family’s dedication to their home and their desire to protect it and make it a better place.
Order DNA origin analysisMeriweather: Where does the name Meriweather come from?
The last name Meriweather is most common in the United States, particularly in the states of Georgia and Tennessee. In fact, it is the 1,085th most common last name in the nation. Meriweather is also common in the United Kingdom, particularly England where it is ranked 2,734th. It is a very longstanding name, with roots that can be traced back to before the 10th century. The origin of the name much further than the United States and United Kingdom, though. It is a Germanic name taken from the Old German myre meaning "fame" and weder meaning "weather or season".
The peak of the frequency of the name Meriweather was around the late 1800s in the United States, probably coinciding with a few large population migrations including the Great Migration and the California Gold Rush. By 2018, Meriweather had decreased its influence slightly, however it is still very common today in the aforementioned states. This is due to these states holding a large population of Meriweather’s at the present day, as well as of the history of the United States – many Meriweather’s still live in these states from many decades ago.
Variations of the surname Meriweather
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Meriweather include:
Merryweather, Merriweather, Meriwether, Merrewether, Meriwethers, Meriweither, Meriweth, Meriwethers, Meryweather, Meryweathers, Merywether, Merweather, Marriweather, Marreweth, Marriwether, Merrittweather, Marriweth, and Merrittweathers.
The origin of the surname is English, deriving from names of places, some of which have now become obsolete. The name Meriweather seems to be derived from the pre 7th century Olde English words “mǣres” meaning a “boundary” or “limit” and “wǣther” meaning “the weather”. In other words those who lived by a certain boundary or limit of some sort, either natural or man-made.
Other variants of the name can be derived from different meanings. The French “mieux” meaning “better” and the Germanic “Merle” meaning “blackbird” have also been suggested for the origin of the Merriweather surname, suggesting those who are either better than others or perhaps those who resemble blackbirds.
Whether they be from Olde English, French or Germanic origins, Meriweather remains a popular surname that has seen a resurgence in recent years, with many different variants and spellings.
Famous people with the name Meriweather
- Dave Meriweather: American football coach and former player.
- Tyson Meriweather: Professional mixed martial arts fighter.
- Phil Meriweather: Actor, TV and film producer.
- Franklin Meriweather: Award-winning engineer and motivational speaker.
- Amber Meriweather: Singer and song writer.
- Richard Meriweather: Popular British author and activist.
- Xavier Meriweather: Actor and former stuntman.
- Darryl Meriweather: Grammy-nominated music producer and engineer.
- Monica Meriweather: American sociologist and public health epidemiologist.
- Steven Meriweather: Professional dancer and choreographer.