Surname Morlette - Meaning and Origin
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Morlette: What does the surname Morlette mean?
The last name Morlette is of French origin and is derived from the Latin word morus, which means mulberry. This surname may have been used to describe someone who has a resemblance to a mulberry in character or physical features. It could have been used to refer to an individual with a bright, sweet disposition or even someone with a reddish complexion.
The name Morlette has been carried down through the generations, passed down from one family member to the next. It is still used as a surname in families living in France today. In fact, it is more common in the southern region of the country than in the north.
The root of the word morlette can also be found in many other European countries such as Italy, where it became Morlato, Germany, where it became Marlatt, and Ireland, where it became Morlette.
The meaning of the last name Morlette might be lost in time but it remains a strong reminder of the family legacy and history. The traces of the heritage are still seen in France and other European countries. Despite the distance of centuries, the name still has a special place in many hearts around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisMorlette: Where does the name Morlette come from?
The last name Morlette is most commonly found in France. It is a patronymic name that originates from the male given name Morel, which is derived from the Latin word "morum", meaning blackberry. The last name first became popular in France during the Middle Ages; however, it is also a surname of French-Canadian origin.
In the modern day, Morlette is found most frequently in the French region of Poitou-Charentes, located in the western half of the country. It is also quite common in the French department of Mayenne in the northwest of France.
The Morlette name is also found in Canada, where it is most common in the province of Quebec. Morlette is one of the rare French surnames that was carried over to New France in the late 1600s. After the family settled in Canada, it spread to various parts of the United States, including Louisiana, Illinois, Texas and California.
Morlette is a unique and uncommon last name. Although it is most commonly found in France and North America, Morlette families have settled in other parts of the world, including South America, Australia, and parts of Africa.
In total, Morlette families can be found in over 74 countries worldwide.
Variations of the surname Morlette
The surname Morlette is a French variant of the name Morlet. It is an occupational surname of French origin, deriving from the Old French word ‘morlet’, meaning ‘little blackbird’. This reflection of the ancient occupation of bird trapping denotes the historical origin of the family. Other variants of this surname include Morlet, Morlette, Merlet, Marlet, Morlat, Marle, Morauld, Morlet-Bouchard, Longemorlet, and LeMolette.
In Germany, the surname is known as Marlet, while in Italy it takes on the form Marletto. The variants of the Morlette surname such as Marle, Marlat, Merle and Merlat, can be found scattered across Europe, particularly in areas where the Gallic-Roman population lived.
Morlette is an altered form of Morlet, which is based on the French personal name ‘Morlot’; it has both meaning ‘little blackbird’ and ‘little Mordechai’. Variants of this surname with similar spelling includes Murlet, Morlote, Muret, Murlette, Morel, Morelle, Mourel, and DoMoirel.
The Middle English word “morel” is derived from French ‘morelle’ which means morello cherry, indicating this surname was also used as a nickname for someone with black or dark hair or complexion. However, Morlette remains the most common spelling of this old French name.
The surname is still used around the world with variations which include Longemorlet in France; Morlet-Bouchard and LeMolette in the United States; Marlet in Germany; Marletto and Moretti in Italy; and Morea in Spain.
Famous people with the name Morlette
- Rob Morlette, former NFL defensive tackle
- Shawn Morlette, Grammy-winning audio engineer
- Janet Morlette, actress
- Robert Morlette, businessman and philanthropist
- Charlotte Morlette, French poet
- Romane Morlette, film director and producer
- Gerard Morlette, financier
- John Morlette, tax attorney
- Sybil Morlette, heiress
- Luc Morlette, politician