Heraldry and the Merle Surname

In census returns, Merle often stands in for Merlin. Name scholars give the meaning as “Merlin falcon”. Before spelling was fixed, Merlin was also written Merle. Census takers and immigration officers often wrote what they heard. You may also find the name written Merlini.

1,302 Americans were listed as Merle in the 2010 census. That is enough to place it in the top 25,000 American surnames. From 1891 to 2000, 15,643 births in France were registered under Merle. Names that sound alike, such as Merlo, are easily confused in old records.

Looking for a Merle coat of arms? Arms were granted to families, not to surnames, and our research shows which heraldic tradition fits yours. Want more than a summary? See the Merle family name pack.