Surname Merkli - Meaning and Origin
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Merkli: What does the surname Merkli mean?
The last name Merkli is an occupational surname which means "shopkeeper" or "merchant" in German. The surname is derived from the German word "Merk", meaning "trade" or "marketplace", and the suffix "-li", which could refer to a diminutive form or a patronymic form.
The origin of the Merkli surname dates back to the Middle Ages, when the medieval markets of Europe were the centers of trade and commerce. As a result, many people of Germanic backgrounds adopted the surname to denote their occupation or connection to the emerging market economy.
Today, the Merkli last name is common in both German and Swiss communities. People with the name often take pride in their long-standing historical connection to Germanic commerce and cultural heritage. Although the surname is of German origin, it is now used across all cultural boundaries, and is not exclusively reserved for people of Germanic descent.
The Merkli last name is still widely used in Germany and Switzerland, and is beginning to spread beyond the German-speaking countries it was traditionally associated with. It is a reminder of the important role that the markets played in the development of the European economy, and of the proud histories of the people who once adopted the surname.
Order DNA origin analysisMerkli: Where does the name Merkli come from?
The last name Merkli is most common in Switzerland, where it is one of the most common surnames. It is of Swiss-German origin from a toponym meaning "little mark," and is especially common in the canton of Bern. It is also found in other countries with Swiss emigration, such as the United States, Australia, and Canada. In the United States, the last name Merkli is found mainly in Pennsylvania, where it is the 99th most common surname in the state. Other regions with a significant concentration of people with this last name are California, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. In Australia, the surname is most common in Victoria, New South Wales, and Western Australia, while in Canada it is most prevalent in Alberta and British Columbia. Overall, this surname is especially common in countries of Swiss origin, with Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and other parts of North America having substantial numbers of people with the surname Merkli.
Variations of the surname Merkli
The surname Merkli is derived from the late medieval German name Marclye, which was derived from the Latin name Marcus. This name was brought to Switzerland by German settlers in the 12th and 13th centuries. The main variants, spellings, and surnames of Merkli are:
Merkley, Marcley, Markley, Marcli, Markli, and Marklee. The surname can be found in several countries, and can be Anglicized to Markley.
The Merkli surname is found mainly in the Swiss cantons of Schwyz, Grisons, Aargau, and Zurich. People with this surname can also be found in Belgium, France, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
In Germany, people with this surname may also spell the name as Merkl or Merkel, and in Austria as Merkyl. In France, the surname may be spelled as Marcley or Marclay.
In the United States, where large numbers of German immigrants arrived in the 19th century, the name is often spelled as Markley. Variants of the spelling of the surname include Marlley, Mursley, Murkley, Murkli, and Merklin.
The surname Merkli is found mostly in areas of French-speaking Switzerland, and may be spelled Mory, Morys, Morye, Markey, Marcley, or Markleigh. It is also commonly found in Southwestern Germany, where it may be spelled as Merkl, Murkle, Murkli, or Merkin.
Famous people with the name Merkli
- Anic Merkli: Swiss footballer, currently plays for St. Gallen in the Swiss Super League.
- Andri Merkli: Swiss film actor and producer.
- Donat Merkli: Swiss politician.
- Hans Merkli: Swiss mountaineer and author.
- Heinrich Merkli: Swiss politician.
- Johannes Merkli: Swiss theologian and historian.
- Micha Merkli: Swiss actor, director and theatre producer.
- Robert Merkli: Swiss sculptor.
- Valentin Merkli: Swiss mountain guide.
- Yvonne Merkli: Swiss TV presenter.