Merlin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Merlin family

The surname Merlin was first found in Gloucestershire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the 13th century when they held lands.

Early History of the Merlin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Merlin research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1446, 1455, 1484, 1487, 1492 and 1503 are included under the topic Early Merlin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Merlin Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Merlin, Merling and others.

Early Notables of the Merlin family

More information is included under the topic Early Merlin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Merlin World Ranking

In the United States, the name Merlin is the 16,824^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Merlin is ranked the 359^th most popular surname with an estimated 11,427 people with that name. 2

Merlin migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Merlin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

A Merlin, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 3

Merlin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Merlin Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Simon Merlin, who arrived in Acadia in 1636

Contemporary Notables of the name Merlin (post 1700) +

Joanna Merlin (1931-2023), born Joann Ratner, is an American actress and casting director who starred in the original Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof
Henry Beaufoy Merlin (1830-1873), English photographer from London who emigrated to Sydney, Australia, arriving on 8 December 1848; he and Charles Bayliss toured the countryside photographing the scenery
Serge Merlin (1933-2019), French actor and director, best known for his role as Raymond Dufayel in Amélie (2001)
Jean-Baptiste Gabriel Merlin, French Brigadier General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 4
Antoine François Eugène Merlin, French Divisional General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 5
Christophe Antoine Merlin, French Divisional General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 6
John-Joseph Merlin (1735-1803), Belgian inventor and horologist
Jean-Claude Merlin (b. 1954), French astronomer
Dino Merlin (b. 1962), prominent Bosnian singer-songwriter and musician
Sidney Merlin (1856-1952), British botanist and sports shooter

Historic Events for the Merlin family +

Halifax Explosion

Master Edward Merlin (1915-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 7

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, April 29) Jean-Baptiste Merlin. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html
Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, April 29) Antoine Merlin. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html
Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, April 29) Christophe Merlin. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance