Merie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

Merie is a name that was carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Merie family lived in Norfolk. Their name, however, is a reference to the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Meret, Normandy.

Early Origins of the Merie family

The surname Merie was first found in Norfolk. However, some of the family were found at Stow-Maries in Essex. "This parish takes the adjunct to its name from the family of Marey, to whom the lands at one time belonged." 1

Early History of the Merie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Merie research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1605, 1660 and 1682 are included under the topic Early Merie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Merie Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Merie include Merry, Mirrey, Merrie, Mirrie and others.

Early Notables of the Merie family

Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Merie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Merie family to Ireland

Some of the Merie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Merie migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Meries to arrive on North American shores:

Merie Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Jo Merie, aged 17, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Primrose" 2

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)