NameCensus.

UK surname

Melhado

A Portuguese surname meaning "wetted" or "soaked".

In the 1881 census there were 5 people recorded with the Melhado surname, ranking it #33,110 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 109, ranked #29,402, up from #33,110 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Breckland, Wirral and Nottingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Melhado is 114 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2080.0%.

1881 census count

5

Ranked #33,110

Modern count

109

2016, ranked #29,402

Peak year

2010

114 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Melhado had 5 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,110 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 109 in 2016, ranked #29,402.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 30 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Melhado surname distribution map

The map shows where the Melhado surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Melhado surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Melhado over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 11 #31,309
1861 historical 5 #33,418
1881 historical 5 #33,110
1891 historical 21 #32,526
1901 historical 30 #30,724
1911 historical 17 #31,675
1997 modern 78 #29,785
1998 modern 79 #30,080
1999 modern 79 #30,243
2000 modern 79 #30,249
2001 modern 79 #30,065
2002 modern 83 #30,070
2003 modern 80 #30,425
2004 modern 93 #29,065
2005 modern 92 #29,271
2006 modern 98 #28,621
2007 modern 102 #28,351
2008 modern 101 #28,825
2009 modern 103 #29,127
2010 modern 114 #28,017
2011 modern 111 #28,294
2012 modern 98 #30,612
2013 modern 105 #29,916
2014 modern 102 #30,714
2015 modern 106 #29,895
2016 modern 109 #29,402

Geography

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Where Melhados are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Breckland, Wirral, Nottingham, Great Yarmouth and Hammersmith and Fulham. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Breckland 017 Breckland
2 Wirral 020 Wirral
3 Nottingham 013 Nottingham
4 Great Yarmouth 010 Great Yarmouth
5 Hammersmith and Fulham 002 Hammersmith and Fulham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Melhado

These lists show first names that appear often with the Melhado surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Melhado

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Melhado, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Melhado surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Melhado household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Melhado is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Melhado is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Melhado falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Melhado is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with Melhado, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Melhado

The surname MELHADO is of Portuguese origin, and it is believed to have emerged in the 14th century. It is derived from the Portuguese word "melho," which means "better" or "improved." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who had improved their circumstances or achieved a higher status.

The earliest recorded instances of the MELHADO surname can be found in historical documents and records from the regions of Lisbon and Setúbal in Portugal. These areas were known for their agricultural and fishing industries, so it is possible that the name was initially associated with individuals who had improved their farming or fishing practices.

One of the earliest known bearers of the MELHADO name was João MELHADO, who lived in the late 15th century and was a prominent landowner in the Alentejo region of Portugal. Records from that time period also mention a Maria MELHADO, who was a respected midwife in the city of Évora.

In the 16th century, the MELHADO surname began to spread beyond Portugal as Portuguese explorers and settlers ventured to other parts of the world. For example, there are records of a Pedro MELHADO who was among the first Portuguese settlers in Brazil, arriving in the early 1500s.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the MELHADO name appeared in various historical documents and records across Portugal and its colonies. One notable figure was Francisco MELHADO, a Portuguese soldier and explorer who participated in the colonization of Angola in the late 17th century.

Another significant individual with the MELHADO surname was José MELHADO, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the 18th century. He was known for his philanthropic endeavors and was instrumental in the construction of several churches and hospitals in the city of Porto.

As Portuguese immigrants began to settle in other parts of the world, the MELHADO surname spread to different continents. For instance, in the 19th century, there were MELHADO families living in the United States, particularly in the states of California and Massachusetts, where they had established successful businesses and communities.

Overall, the MELHADO surname has a rich history that spans centuries and continents, with its origins rooted in the agricultural and fishing communities of Portugal. Despite its widespread dispersal, the name continues to carry the connotation of improvement and progress, reflecting the legacy of its earliest bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Melhado families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Melhado surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 5 Melhados recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.31x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 5 10.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Spitalfields London in Middlesex leads with 5 Melhados recorded in 1881 and an index of 1388.89x.

Place Total Index
Spitalfields London 5 1388.89x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Melhado surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Betse 1
Julia 1
Rachel 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Melhado surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Hyam 1
Jacob 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Melhado households.

Occupation Count
Cigar Maker 1

FAQ

Melhado surname: questions and answers

How common was the Melhado surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5 people were recorded with the Melhado surname. That placed it at #33,110 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Melhado surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 109 in 2016. That gives Melhado a modern rank of #29,402.

What does the Melhado surname mean?

A Portuguese surname meaning "wetted" or "soaked".

What does the Melhado map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Melhado bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.