Merz Family Genealogy

Merz

   The name "Merz" is derived from the German name Märtz -- a short form of a personal name such as Martin or Mark, and the Germanic personal name, Marizo -- which became Mar(t)zo), a pet form of compound names formed with mari (‘famous’) as the first element.
   It's also a nickname for someone who was born or baptized in the month of March (in Middle High German, merz), or who had some other special connection with the month, such as owing a feudal obligation at that time. Spelling variations include: Merrittstein, Meerheim, Meistersheim, Mercklien, Merklein, Merzstein, Mertzheim, Meirstein, Maerheim, Maerstein, Meerstein and many more.
   The Merz family that we come from was first found in the Rhineland, where this family was a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times.
   Our line can be traced all the way back to BARBARA MERZ, born before 1788, who married MICHAEL GRIEB, a coach maker.
   They had a son, MICHAEL GRIEB, JR., on the 22nd of October, 1806, in Moehringen Stuttgart, Wurtemberg, Germany, and the rest is history -- or, at least, genealogy...

GENEALOGY BARBARA MERZ married MICHAEL GRIEB (b. 1786) and begat... MICHAEL GRIEB, JR. (1806 - 1860) who married CHARLOTTE (ELIZABETH MASTELLA) WAGNER (1809 - 1880) and begat... WILHELM (WILLIAM) GRIEB (1838 - 1901) who married SALMA KATE MAMMEL (1848 - 1932) and begat... MARTHA CAROLINA GRIEB (1880 - 1937) who married MARTIN WENK (1876 - 1964) and begat... ERWIN WENK (1910 - 1982) who married DOROTHY PRITCHARD (b. 1918) and begat... MARTHA WENK (b. 1940) who married CARLETON MARCHANT HAUSE, JR. (b. 1939) and begat... JEFF (who married LORI ANN DOTSON), KATHY (who married HAL LARSEN), ERIC (who married MARY MOONSAMMY), and MICHELE HAUSE (who married JOHN SCOTT HOUSTON).