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Re: Merlini
From: http://www.melegnano.net/cognomi/cognomi0011en.htm

Presente in tutto il centro nord, potrebbe derivare da toponimi come Merlino (LO) o dal nome medioevale italiano Merlino.

Translated:
Present in the whole central north, could derive from placenames like Merlino (LO) or from the medieval Italian name Merlino.Thus either from placenames or meaning "son of Merlino".
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thanks alot
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It could also be a variant of Merlo that is a nickname coming from the name of a bird "the blackbird"
Merlo is often a nickname for a naive person.
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