Merlin Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Merlin last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Merlin last name
Meaning of the Merlin last name: merlin falcon. Merlin is a French surname from merle, "blackbird", or from the small merlin falcon, a nickname for a lively or clever man. The Arthurian wizard Merlin also spread the given name. The last name is found across France, and jurist Philippe-Antoine Merlin de Douai served the Revolution.
Arms associated with the Merlin name
Coats of arms associated with the Merlin surname follow French heraldry, each with its own blazon.
Get your full Merlin family history
This is only a glimpse of the Merlin story. The full Merlin history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Merlin coat of arms. Get the full Merlin report.
Merlin name FAQ
What does the Merlin name mean?
Merlin falcon. Common variants include Merle, Merlini.
Where does the Merlin surname come from?
It originates in France, and is also found in Canada, Belgium and Switzerland.
Is there a Merlin coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Merlin coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France (Larousse); Marie-Thérèse Morlet, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille (Perrin, 1991).