Merlo Family History
Merlo Name Meaning
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
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022