This surname is derived from an occupation. 'the mercer,' a dealer in clothes; the Frenchmercier, a draper.

Jordan de Mercer, Lincolnshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Adelard le Mercer, Oxfordshire, ibid.

Ketel le Mercer, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

Johannes Payge, mercer, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Thomas Mercer, 1379: ibid.

1694. Baptised — Success, son of Thomas Mercer: St. Michael, Cornhill.

From the occupation, ME. mercer, LL. mercerius, French mercier, a mercer, draper, dealer. The word still exists in English in the sense of a dealer in silks, William Mercer or le Mercer witnessed two charters in favor of the Abbey of Kelso, c. 1200 (Kelso, 354,507). Aleumnus Mercer was party with twenty-three others to a bond given by Alexander 11 to Henry III in 1244 to keep the peace. He had a grant of Tillicoultry from Walter, son of Alan. His son and successor of the same name resigned his lands into the king's hands in 1261 (Stodart, II, p. 124. Stodart spells Alcunus). A curious story of two Mercers appears in English records, which throws an interesting sidelight on the law of the period. In 1279 "a man unknown was housed at Morpathe (Morpeth) with Geoffrey and William, the mercers of Scotland. The stranger rose through the night and stole their goods to the value of 30s., and instantly fled to Cotinwode, followed by William, who slew him in his flight. Both withdrew themselves and are not discredited. They may return f they will, but their chattels arr confiscated for flight" (Bain, II. p. 42). (Apparently it was lawful to pursue a thief with hue and cry and do summary justice on him if found with the goods in his possession. The Mercers erred in not pursuing the thief in the recognized way.) Duncan Mersar, witness in Aberdeen, 1272, is probably Duncan Mercener, who witnessed a charter by Martin Aurifaber (Goldsmith) there in 1281 (REA., I, p. 37; II, p. 279). Austyn le Mercer, burgess of Roxburgh, Bernard le Mercer, burgess of Perth, and Wauter le Mercer, burgess of Montrose, rendered homage, 1296 (Bain, II, p. 197,198). Thomas dictus Mercer held land "in vico Sellatorum" (Saddlers' street) of Perth, 1332 (Scon, 163). There are two old families of this name-the Mercers of Aldie and those of Innerpeffry in Stratheam. The former were intimately connected with the history and prosperity of Perth. The founder of this branch appears to have been Thomas. He had an order from Edward III in 1341 on the coast of Bordeaux for money due for raising men and horses for service in Aquitania. John Mercer, a wealthy burgess of Perth, who flourished in latter half of fourteenth century, was provost of the town in 1357, 1369, 1374, and in 1355 commissioner for Perth to arrange for the liberation of David II (APS., I, p. 517). He was taken prisoner by the English during a truce in 1376, and shortly afterwards released without ransom, much to the chagrin of Walsingham, who mentions his "inestimable wealth." An old rhyme referring to the antiquity of the Mercers of Perth says:

"So sicker 'tis as anything on earth The Mercers aye are older than old Perth."Stolen from Fore-bears

Another rhyme referring to them punningly records that:

"Folk say the Mercers tried the town to cheat When for two Inches they did win six feet."

This alludes to the exchange of the two Inches of Perth (where the famous clan battle was fought in 1396) for the right of sepulture in St. John's Church, Perth. Marcer 1527, Marsar 1497, Mersare 1428, Marser 1574, Merssar 1618, Mersour 1515, Mersher 1591, Mersser 1607.

(English, French) One who dealt in silks, velvets and other costly materials; a peddler or merchant small wares.

I know not how this word came to be monopolized by the dealers in silk, as its true and original meaning is, a general dealer-a person who combines the trades of grocer, draper, hatter, clothier, druggist, stationer, haberdasher, undertaker, &c., &c., as many country shopkeepers do to this day. In an old song against the Friars it is said: —

One who deals in silks and woolen goods.

The Mercers were another old Staplehurst family. In 1730 the Mercers of Hawkhurst bought the Newsted estate in Staplehurst, which they still possessed when Hasted wrote in 1790. Mercer was the name of one of the representatives for Canterbury in the reign of Edward III. (H.).