| ![Show Contents]() Merleau History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of MerleauWhat does the name Merleau mean? The surname Merleau is a habitational place-name, which is a type of hereditary surname, and is derived from the name of the place in which the first bearer lived. Merleau is derived from is Morlaix, in Brittany, a peninsula in the northwest of France. Formerly known as Armorica, a possession of the Roman Empire, this land consists of a plateau with a deeply indented coast and is broken by hills in the west. Early Origins and Etymology of MerleauThe surname Merleau was first found in Buckinghamshire at Marlow, a town and civil parish within Wycombe district. The earliest record of the place was listed as Merelafan in 1015, but was listed a few years later as Merlaue in the Domesday Book 1. Literally, the name means 'land remaining after the draining of a pool' having been derived from the Old English words mere + laf 2 However, another reference claims the ancient name of this place was Merlaw, supposed to be derived from the Saxon word Mere, meaning a marsh, and Law or Low, meaning a hill. Marlow, historically called Great Marlow, first sent representatives to parliament in the 28th of Edward I., and continued so to do till the 2nd of Edward II. Little Marlow is a parish in the borough of Marlow about 1 1/2 miles from Marlow and as the name would imply has historically been much smaller. Early History of the Merleau familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Merleau research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1132, 1409, 1564, 1733 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Merleau History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Merleau Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Marlowe, Marloe, Marleau, Marlow and others. Early Notables of the Merleau familyAnother 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Merleau Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Merleau RankingFrance, the name Merleau is the 6,400th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 3 Migration of the Merleau family to IrelandSome of the Merleau family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 78 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Merleau familySome of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Nicholas and Jane Marleaw and their three children, who arrived in Virginia in 1630; Rebecca Marlowe, who came to New England in 1635; William Marlow, who settled in Maryland in 1656.
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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