Surname Meridith - Meaning and Origin
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Meridith: What does the surname Meridith mean?
The last name Meridith is a variant of Meredith, a name of Welsh origin. It is derived from the Old Welsh elements "mór," which means "great," and "rhydd", which means "free," thus the name can be interpreted to mean "great freedom" or "great ruler." Wales, being a land of ancient kingdoms, saw the rise of powerful rulers which influenced its nomenclature. The name Meredith was initially used as a masculine first name, but it was gradually used as a surname and also as a feminine first name, especially in the United States. Usage as both a first and last name highlight the name's versatility. Therefore, the surname Meridith connotes a sense of strength, freedom, and greatness, influenced by the cultural and historical context of Wales.
Order DNA origin analysisMeridith: Where does the name Meridith come from?
The surname Meridith is of Welsh origin, derived from the Welsh personal name "Maredudd" or "Meredydd." In old Welsh, "Meredydd" translates to 'great lord.' The name first occurred in Chirk, where they held a family seat from ancient times. It later on transformed into several versions including Meredith, Meredyth, Meridith, and Merridith.
In terms of its prevalence in the modern world, the surname Meridith is predominantly found in the United States, according to surname distribution data. However, it's also present, to a lesser degree, in countries such as England, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. While its Welsh origins make it a common surname in Wales, it is not limited to that area due to the dispersion of Welsh people throughout history. Despite its popularity in several English-speaking countries, Meridith is not considered a widely common name overall.
Variations of the surname Meridith
The surname Meridith primarily originates from Wales and is derived from the Welsh personal name "Maredudd" or "Meredydd". Due to its pronunciation and variations in regional phonetics, the surname has evolved over time and has various spellings and variants. Some of these include Meredith, Merridith, Merideth, Meredyth, Meradith and Merideth.
Moreover, the use of prefixes in Welsh surnames led to another version, namely "Ap-Meredith" which means "son of Meredith". Over time this may have been shortened to P-Meredith or simply Meredith.
While these forms are more direct variants, surnames like Merrett may be related, evolving from Meredith over time or due to regional pronunciation differences.
It's also significant to note that the translation of the name 'Maredudd' into English resulted in different spellings like Meredith and Merridith.
Though it originated in Wales, the surname and its variants are now found all over the world, with people bearing the name Meredith or its variants found in the United States, England, Australia, and many other nations.
Famous people with the name Meridith
- Meredith Vieira: journalist, television host, and game show host
- Alexis Meredith: American actress and singer
- Rosemary Meredith: British painter
- Meredith Mitchell: American actress and producer
- Meredith Baxter: American actress, also known for her role as Elyse Keaton on the sitcom Family Ties
- Preston Meredith: American composer, author, and music producer
- Lyle Meredith: British actor
- Sidney Meredith: British actor
- Richard Meredith: British actor
- Gregory Meredith: American film director, writer, and producer
- Chris Meredith: American painter
- Mary Meredith: American actress