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This page last updated on Wednesday, October 04, 2006
"Merriman-The phrase mery men, applied to adherents or soldiers, may be merely expressive of their hilarity in the service of their chief.- A. Sax. mirige, cheerful."-Jamieson. "An old term used by a chief in addressing his soldiers: 'My merry men.'"-Ibid. But it has been stated, from time immemorial, at Marlborough, the Merrimans have occasionally written themselves Marmion, and this is probably the true source of the surname."
"Marmion, Marmiun.-A great feudal family sprung from Robert de Marmion, lord of Fontenay in Normandy, who came hither at the Conquest, and received from William the Conqueror the Castle and Barony of Tamworth, co. Warwick in the year 1066"
The family name Merriman is believed also to be descended originally from the Norman race, frequently but mistakenly assumed to be of French origin. They were more accurately of Viking origin according to this one source.
One author wrote, he only once came across the name spelt "Marmian," and that is in connection with the presentation of the living of St. Mary's of Adree by the Crown to John Marmian (?Mariman), 5 and 6 Philip and Mary.
It has also been suggested that the name is derived from the Meermans or Mermans of Holland and Flanders, or it may have taken its rise from a person residing near some of the Merés, or having some duty to perform in those districts.
Similar to the previous one is the following...that Merriman was derived from the word "Meer" or "Mear" (or maybe it's spelled some other way (Mir?), which meant "creek." Therefore, the Mear man was the person who ferried people across the creek. As the story goes, this evolved into Merriman.
One explanation of the name Merriman is that it originated with persons who played the part of Robin Hoods merry men in Shakespeare's play but this cannot be the case as the name predates Shakespeare.
Another possibility of it's origin is from the book: British Family Names: Their Origin and Meaning (with lists of Scandinavian, Frisian, Anglo-Saxon and Norman names). By Rev. Henry Barber, M.D., F.S.A. Published: Elliot Stock, 62 Pternoster Row, E.C. 1903. Republished By Gale Research Company, Book Tower, Detroit, 1968. "What is a name?" - Romeo and Juliet. On page 197, (under British Surnames) it says: MERYMAN [that's how this author documented a spelling of it, in this text]. "MERYMAN, From Miremont; a loc., n., France It is also an Irish form of Marmion."
One writer has told me he was on a vacation to the big island of Hawaii about 7 years ago and met up with Paul Merriman, proprietor of "Merrimans'" a very highly rated local restaurant. His mother, a journalist with a prominent Pittsburgh periodical extensively researched the family name in churches, town halls, etc. throughout the U.K. she found the name arose almost simultaneously in England, Ireland, Wales etc. This occurred shortly after Henry the 8th. kicked the catholic church out and established the Church of England. The only priests left to minister to the faithful were itinerant priests from Southern Ireland. The illegitimate offspring of these priests were given the surname of Merriman. While not as noble as some explanations, it is nonetheless, quite romantic.
If you have other resources giving an explanation to the history of the name please write to me at and let me know
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