History of your Surname
Get access to Merle family records.Start a free trial

Merle Family History

Merle Name Meaning

French English (of Norman origin) German and Dutch: nickname possibly for a good or habitual singer or whistler from Old French Middle High German merle ‘blackbird’ (from Latin merula). See also Italian and Spanish Merlo . French: habitational name from (Le) Merle the name of several places in various parts of France. English: variant of Marle a topographic name from Middle English marle ‘marl’ (Old French marle) i.e. clay mixed with calcium carbonate often spread as a fertilizer on sandy soils. Compare Marler . German; Dutch (also Van Merle): habitational name possibly referring to the watername Merle or to any of the places called Merle Marle or Maarle (e.g. in Overijssel). Croatian and Slovenian: nickname derived from an old spelling of Croatian dialect and Slovenian mrleti ‘to languish’. In North America this surname is probably also an altered form of the variant Mrle. In Slovenia both forms are very rare today.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Mehle, Mele, Meile, Merlo, Merry, Erle, Werle, Melle, Ergle, Merl

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Merle family from?

You can see how Merle families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Merle family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Merle families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 2 Merle families living in Ontario. This was about 67% of all the recorded Merle's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Merle families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Merle surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Merle ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Merle. 22% of Merle men worked as a Laborer and 18% of Merle women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Merle were Truck Driver and New Worker. .

View Census Data for Merle | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    22%
  • Farmer
    15%
  • Salesman
    8%
  • Truck Driver
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    18%
  • Housewife
    10%
  • Saleslady
    10%
  • New Worker
    10%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Merle family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 8,000 census records available for the last name Merle. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Merle census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Merle

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Merle. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Merle immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Merle. For the veterans among your Merle ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Merle military records

You've only scratched the surface of Merle family history

Discover More

What is the average Merle lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Merle life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1962, and highest in 1981. The average life expectancy for Merle in 1962 was 63, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Merle

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Merle family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Merle last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial