Contents [hide]

Merrett History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Merrett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Merrett is a name that was carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Merrett family lived in Leicestershire. Their name, however, is a reference to the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Marriot in Normandy. While many of the family settled in England, some stayed behind in Normandy as shown by Richard Mareta who was listed there (1180-1195.) 1

Early Origins of the Merrett family

The surname Merrett was first found in Somerset at Merriott, a parish, in the union of Chard, hundred of Crewkerne. 2 This parish was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Meriet 3 and possibly meant "boundary gate," from the Old English words "maere" + "geat." 4 Some of the first listings of the name include: Alric filius Meriet; and Aelric Meriete in 1066 and Aegel filius Mergeati c. 1086. Symon Meriet was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1202. 5 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: John de Meriet in Lincolnshire; and Simon de Meriet in Somerset. 6

Early History of the Merrett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Merrett research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1614, 1657, 1679, 1695, 1698, 1708 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Merrett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Merrett 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 Merrett include Marriott, Mariott, Marriot, Marritt, Marrot, Marrotte, Mariatt, Maryet, Maryott, Marryatt, Mariate, Merritt, Merriott and many more.

Early Notables of the Merrett family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Christopher Merret (Merrett) FRS (1614-1695), an English physician and scientist, the first to document the deliberate addition of sugar for the production of sparkling wine

Migration of the Merrett family to Ireland

Some of the Merrett family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Merrett 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 Merretts to arrive on North American shores:

Merrett Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Merrett, who landed in Virginia in 1637 7

Merrett Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Z Merrett, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 7
J Merrett, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 7
Mr. Thomas J. Merrett, (b. 1876), aged 22, Cornish miner, from Liskeard, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Majestic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 7th July 1898 en route to Red Jacket, Michigan, USA 8

Merrett Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Miss Mary Jane Merrett, (b. 1854), aged 51, American returning from Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to the United States 8

Merrett migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Merrett Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Geo Merrett, who landed in Canada in 1817

Merrett migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Merrett Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

James Merrett, English convict from Surrey, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on February 22, 1834, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 9
Mr. John Merrett, British Convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for life, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 25th June 1838, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
Edward Merrett, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Moffatt" in 1839 11
Charlotte Merrett, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Moffatt" in 1839 11
Ann Merrett, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Planter" in 1839 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Merrett migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Merrett Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. George Merrett, (b. 1843), aged 21, British gardener travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "British Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 6th September 1864 13
Jane Merrett, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Andrew Jackson" in 1865
Florence Merrett, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Andrew Jackson" in 1865
Francis Merrett, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Countess of Kintore" in 1870
George Merrett, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Edward P Bouverie" in 1873 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Merrett (post 1700) +

Lara Merrett (b. 1971), Australian visual artist from Melbourne
Jackson Merrett (b. 1993), professional Australian rules football player
Colonel Sir Charles Edward Merrett CBE (1863-1948), Australian merchant, agriculturist and political activist from Melbourne
Mitch Merrett, Canadian record producer, music manager, and country musician from Langley, British Columbia
John Campbell Merrett (1909-1998), Canadian architect, best known for his design of Montreal’s Central Station
Leo Merrett (1920-1976), Australian rules footballer, Richmond Best and Fairest winner (1942 and 1944)
Thorold Merrett (b. 1933), former Australian rules footballer
Roger Merrett (b. 1960), former Australian rules footballer
Nigel Robert Merrett (b. 1940), British zoologist and ichthyologist
Daniel Merrett (b. 1984), Australian rules footballer from Adelaide

Historic Events for the Merrett family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Percy L V Merrett, British Able Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 15

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
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)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1834 with 230 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1834
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MOFFATT 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Moffatt.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PLANTER 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Planter.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 4th November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html