Surname Merlet - Meaning and Origin

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H. Merlet

Merlet: What does the surname Merlet mean?

The last name Merlet is a French family name of relatively ancient origin. The origin of this name is believed to originate from an old French term meaning 'blackbird' or 'crescent moon'. This term was used to describe someone who embodied the characteristics of a blackbird, such as a shrewdness or intelligence, or the crescent moon, which symbolised the mysteriousness and unpredictability of the night sky.

The Merlet surname can be found throughout France, as well as other countries with French ancestry such as Canada and the United States. It is most common in the French regions of Île-de-France and Basse-Normandie.

In addition to its original French meaning, the Merlet surname has also been given a more literal meaning in recent years. The name Merlet can be found in many popular novels and is often used as a symbol for a character with a sharp wit or attitude.

It is difficult to know the exact history or origin of the Merlet surname. However, it has become a common part of many French surnames and even made its way into popular culture, where it is associated with the qualities of a blackbird or crescent moon.

Merlet: Where does the name Merlet come from?

The last name Merlet is most commonly found in its French roots today. The name is particularly prominent in the region of Lorraine with an estimated 1,000 people in France bearing this surname. It is thought to be most popular in France’s provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, and is also seen in Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg and areas of Germany and Italy.

Merlet can be traced back to the Middle Ages and is thought to be derived from the Old German word ' merlo', meaning 'blackbird'. This suggests that the name was once associated with the hunting profession. It has also been suggested that a 'merler' or 'merlet' was a type of barge or boat used to transport goods in the Middle Ages. Despite this historical background, Merlet is now generally understood to be a variant of the French term 'merle', which means 'blackbird'.

The Merlet spelling has been seen in many different variations, including Merlaut, Merloy and Merlon. Interestingly, American immigrants primarily opted to retain the original Merlet spelling and it has remained unchanged in the US for many generations.

Merlet is thus a fairly typical French surname, and for those related to the Merlet family, there may be numerous branches spread across the various countries of Europe today.

Variations of the surname Merlet

The surname Merlet is a French name originating from a diminutive form of an old Germanic personal name 'Marbold' (meri- Walt/bold). This surname is used in France and in French-speaking countries such as Switzerland and Belgium. Variants of this surname include Merlait, Merlot, Merlaut, Merlet, Merlais, and Merlaud.

Its other variants are Merlette, Merlaud, Merlot, Merlaudy, Merllet, Merlier, Merlierg, Meriously, Merlo, Merlaut, Merlat, Merleau, Merlet, Merlo, Merlusse, Merlaudet, Merlault, and Mérel.

Merlet can also be seen spelled as Merla. This is due to the French pronunciation of the surname where the letter "t" at the end of the name is not present in the pronunciation. Similar surnames found in the region include Merlet de la Haye, Merlette de la Haye, Merlot de la Haye, and Merlaud de la Haye.

In the United States, Merlet is spelled as Murlet, Merlette or Merlotte, with Murlet being the more common spelling variant among Americans.

In Great Britain, the spelling of Merlet has evolved to Marlett. Among Spanish-speaking countries, the spelling of Merlet is sometimes seen as Merlato or Merluza.

The surnames Marlet, Marlatt, Marlett, and Marlotte may also be associated with the surname Merlet, as they are derived from the same Germanic root. Overall, the surname Merlet has many interesting variants that are found around the world.

Famous people with the name Merlet

• Jean Merlet: French General of the Napoleonic wars.
• Gaëtan Merlet: French cyclist who competed in two Olympic games.
• Chantal Merlet: French professional ice skater and coach.
• Justin Merlet: French swimmer who has competed in the Olympics twice.
• Éric Merlet: French actor best known for his role in the TV series Les Compagnons de la Marjolaine.
• Marion Merlet: French journalist who won the Women's Weekend Journalism Award in 2006.
• Jérémy Merlet: French ski mountaineer who has competed in a multitude of extreme skiing competitions.
• Fabrice Merlet: French alpine skier who has competed in the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup.
• Gilles Merlet: French aeronautical engineer best known for his work in air transportation.
• Jean-Michel Merlet: French heliskiing pioneer who founded the company "Heli Passion".

Other surnames

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