Merisi

Merisi is an Italian surname. Its exact etymology is not clearly documented, and like many Italian names it may arise from locational, patronymic, or descriptive origins. The name is most commonly encountered in historical records from northern Italy, especially in the early modern period, and it remains present among Italian families and diaspora communities today.

The best-known bearer of the name is Michelangelo Merisi (1571–1610), the painter widely referred to as Caravaggio. In archival sources he is listed as Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, with “da Caravaggio” indicating his origin from the town of Caravaggio in Lombardy. Caravaggio’s dramatic realism and innovative use of light had a profound influence on Baroque painting, and his name has become the best-known association with the Merisi surname.

In addition to Caravaggio, there are other individuals who have borne the Merisi surname, but none have achieved the same level of international recognition. The surname may appear in genealogical records, local civil documents, and historical sources related to Italian families from the Lombardy region and surrounding areas.

Overall, Merisi is a historic Italian surname most prominently linked to Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, while remaining a relatively uncommon family name within Italy and among Italian communities abroad.