Surname distribution and origin notes
Merli Surname in Italy
The family name Merli appears very common across Italy. It is held by 5,421 people across 666 Italian towns. The top towns are Milan (315), Piacenza (276), Rome (166). The strongest regional presence is in Lombardia, Emilia-Romagna, Umbria. Related variants include MERLETTI, MERLO, MERLONE, MERLONI, MERLOTTI.
Origin notes
Origin and meaning
The surname Merli is found throughout northern Italy, with a particularly strong concentration in Lombardy. Its origin is most likely connected to the personal name or nickname Merlo, or to the medieval Frankish name Merle, including diminutive and augmentative forms; in some cases it may also reflect the Latin Merolus. A place-name origin is possible, with links to localities such as Castelletto Merli in the Alessandria area, Montemerlo in the Padua area, or Merlino in the Lodi area, but the anthroponymic explanation is far more likely. Medieval records already show early use of forms such as Merolus in the 12th century.
Surname map
Distribution in Italy
Highest presence: Milan
Merli Surname Distribution Map in Italy
This map shows the areas of Italy where the Merli surname is more or less present. Warmer colors indicate stronger presence, while cooler colors indicate lighter presence.
Italian towns with the highest presence
| Town | Province | Region | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milan | Milan | Lombardia | 315people |
| Piacenza | Piacenza | Emilia-Romagna | 276people |
| Rome | Rome | Lazio | 166people |
| Perugia | Perugia | Umbria | 142people |
| Gubbio | Perugia | Umbria | 101people |
| Bologna | Bologna | Emilia-Romagna | 99people |
| Parma | Parma | Emilia-Romagna | 95people |
| Rimini | Rimini | Emilia-Romagna | 78people |
| San Benedetto del Tronto | Ascoli Piceno | Marche | 68people |
| Ferrara | Ferrara | Emilia-Romagna | 61people |
