Date
Meaning & History
habitational name from the city of Mérida in Badajoz province. One of the most important Roman cities of the Iberian peninsula it was named Emerita Augusta and established as a colonia of retired soldiers. Latin emerita is the past participle of emerere "earn out" "merit" i.e. "complete one's term of military service" (from e ex "out of" + merere "to deserve").