Where does “Merv” come from?

Merv is an English place name derived from Persian مرو, of uncertain ultimate origin.

Ancestry of “Merv”, step by step

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	English	Mervyn	—
2	Welsh	Merfyn	Mervyn
3	Welsh	mer	Nasal mutation of ber
4	Proto-Celtic	smérus	marrow
5	Proto-Indo-European	smérus	grease
6	Proto-Indo-European	smer-	to fall into thought, remember, care for; to fall...

Merv — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer