Merryweather History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Merryweather family

The surname Merryweather was first found in Kent at Mereworth, a parish, in the union of Malling, hundred of Littlefield, lathe of Aylesford. This ancient Saxon village dates back to 843 when it was first listed as Meranworth. By the time of the Domesday Book of 1086, the parish was known as Marovrde. 1 Literally the place name means "enclosure of a man called Maera" from the Old English personal name + "worth." 2 The name is often referred to as a nickname for someone who is a happy, genial or a sunshiny fellow. Some of the first listings of the name were found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273: Andrew Muriweder in Oxfordshire; and Thomas Murweder in Cambridgeshire. There is also an undated listing of Henry Muriweder in the Issues of the Exchequer. 3

Early History of the Merryweather family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Merryweather research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1674, 1701, 1703, 1705 and 1718 are included under the topic Early Merryweather History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Merryweather Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Merriweather, Merreweather, Mereweather, Mereworth, Merworth and many more.

Early Notables of the Merryweather family

Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Merryweather Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Merryweather migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Merryweather Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Joseph Merryweather, who settled in Virginia in 1663
Thomas Merryweather, who arrived in Maryland in 1668 4

Merryweather Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Frederick Merryweather, who landed in Mississippi in 1835 4
Weir Merryweather, aged 35, who landed in America, in 1896

Merryweather Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Edith Merryweather, aged 33, who landed in America from Cheshire, in 1903
George Merryweather, aged 61, who landed in America, in 1907
James W Merryweather, aged 62, who settled in America from Sheffield, England, in 1908
Mrs Merryweather, aged 50, who landed in America from Sheffield, England, in 1908
Emma Merryweather, aged 28, who immigrated to the United States from Biggleswade, England, in 1911
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Merryweather (post 1700) +

Hubert O. Merryweather, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Arizona State Senate, 1950; Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Arizona, 1952
Moses Merryweather (1791-1872), English co-founder of Merryweather & Sons which dates back to 1692, builders of steam fire engines and steam tram engines
James Herbert Merryweather (1929-2000), English cricketer
Dr. George Merryweather M.D. (1794-1832), British physician and inventor, best known for his "Tempest Prognosticator", a weather predicting device also called "The Leech Barometer" which appeared at The Great Exhibition (1851)
Neil Merryweather (b. 1945), born Robert Neilson Lillie, Canadian rock singer, bass player and songwriter who has played with Steve Miller, Dave Mason, Rick James and Wilson Pickett

The Merryweather 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: Vi et consilio
Motto Translation: By force and counsels.

Citations +

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)
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)