Merker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Scotland

The German state of Prussia, which reached the zenith of its power in the late 19th century, is the glorious birthplace of the distinguished surname Merker. In the medieval era, after the fall of the Roman Empire, the German lands were inhabited by a variety of barbarian tribes. The borders of the barbarian kingdoms changed frequently, but the region that became known in Prussia was roughly divided between the areas of Brandenburg-Prussia, West Prussia, and East Prussia. The colorful history of Brandenburg-Prussia, provides a glimpse at the oldest origins of the Merker family.

Early Origins of the Merker family

The surname Merker was first found in Prussia, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times.

The famous German noble Merck family rose to fame in Hammelburg, Bavaria in the 15th century. This family had a long history in pharmacy going back to the 17th century and it is from this branch that the famous pharmaceutical Merck Group was established in 1668.

Early History of the Merker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Merker research. Another 203 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1361, 1397, 1398, 1399, 1400, 1408, 1409, 1485, 1559, 1621, 1668, 1678, 1724, 1786, 1807 and 1819 are included under the topic Early Merker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Merker Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Merker include Mark, Marck, Marcker, Marckert, Marquart, Marquard, Marque, Markert, Marker, Marcart, Marcard, Marquart, Marquard and many more.

Early Notables of the Merker family

Notable figures of the time with the name Merker were Thomas Merke (Merks) (died 1409), an English priest and Bishop of Carlisle (1397-1400), Educated at Oxford University, be became a Benedictine monk at Westminster Abbey, consecrated bishop about 1397, served Richard II as ambassador to various German princes in 1397, one of the commissioners who negotiated the dowry of Isabella of Valois in 1398, and accompanied the king to Ireland in 1399, supported Richard against the usurper Henry IV and in 1400 was imprisoned in the Tower of London and deprived of his bishopric as a result...
Another 96 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Merker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Merker migration to the United States +

Prussia played an extremely influential role in shaping modern German history. It remained a part of Germany until after the Second World War. Prussia was divided among the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany. Many Prussians became residents of these new countries after the War, and many migrated to other parts of Germany or Europe, as well as to North America. In the United States, the majority of settlers landed in Philadelphia, and moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Many German settlers also migrated to Canada, particularly to Ontario and the Prairies. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Merker were

Merker Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johannes Merker, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1738 1
Hans Georg Merker, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1751 1
George Merker, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1765 1

Merker Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Leonard Merker, who arrived in St Clair County, Illinois in 1848 1
Philip Merker, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1855 1
Johann Jakob Merker, who arrived in America in 1867 1
Ben Merker, aged 75, who immigrated to America, in 1894
Adolf Merker, aged 23, who immigrated to the United States, in 1896
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Merker Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

August Merker, aged 17, who landed in America from Morgentpohl, Russia, in 1905
Carl Merker, aged 69, who immigrated to the United States from Attesniken, Russia, in 1910
Ewald Merker, aged 54, who landed in America from Chemnitz, Germany, in 1911
Egon Merker, aged 3, who settled in America from Lehe, Germany, in 1915
Diamand Merker, aged 42, who landed in America from Prezemislawy, Poland, in 1920
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Merker (post 1700) +

Michelle Merker, American producer, writer and actress, known for Variety Studio: Actors on Actors (2014), Take Me Home Huey (2017) and Hollywood's Architect: The Paul R. Williams Story (2020)
Kathryn Ethel Merker (1923-2012), American freelance and orchestral horn player in Chicago, who collaborated with the Frank Holton Company on the design and development of the Merker-Matic line of horns
Andreas Merker (b. 1979), German actor, known for Wilsberg (1995), Dogs of Berlin (2018) and Der Bulle und das Biest (2019)
Thomas Merker (b. 1958), German cinematographer and director, known for At Night (1987), Die Cadillac Ranch Geschichte (1985) and Out of Time (1982)
Paul Merker (1894-1969), German activist member of Germany's Communist Party (KPD / Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands)
Hans-Joachim Merker (1929-2014), German physician and anatomist, Professor of Anatomy at the Free University of Berlin from 1972 to 1998, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine from 1980 to 1981
Ludwig Merker (1894-1964), German Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II, recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Björn Merker (b. 1943), Swedish neuroscientist

The Merker Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fortitudine et fidelitate
Motto Translation: By fortitude and fidelity.

Citations +

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)