Merrit

Merrit is a proper noun used as both a given name and a surname. It is a less common variant spelling of Merritt and Meritt, and it often shares origins with those names. The precise etymology is uncertain, but many sources trace Merritt-related forms to medieval English roots, sometimes linked to personal names and sometimes to toponymic origins describing places or boundaries.

As a given name, Merrit is rare in modern usage, historically appearing for both men and women in English-speaking regions. In contemporary usage, Merritt is far more common as a surname and as a given name.

As a surname, Merrit occurs infrequently and is found in records alongside Merritt and Meritt. Variants arose through spelling changes in immigration and local usage; bearers of the name may have ancestry from England, Scotland, or Ireland, and many later lines migrated to North America and other regions.

Geographically and culturally, there is no single place or institution universally recognized as Merrit. The spelling appears in local names, fictional works, and brand or organizational names depending on context.