NameCensus.

UK surname

Mellett

Of French origin meaning "little hill or mound".

In the 1881 census there were 111 people recorded with the Mellett surname, ranking it #18,597 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 377, ranked #12,415, up from #18,597 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Henley-on-Thames, London parishes and Woodburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolton, Kensington and Chelsea and Kingston upon Thames.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mellett is 404 in 2003. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 239.6%.

1881 census count

111

Ranked #18,597

Modern count

377

2016, ranked #12,415

Peak year

2003

404 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mellett had 111 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,597 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 377 in 2016, ranked #12,415.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 252 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Mellett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mellett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mellett 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 122 #14,966
1861 historical 130 #17,164
1881 historical 111 #18,597
1891 historical 166 #17,077
1901 historical 233 #13,740
1911 historical 252 #12,834
1997 modern 382 #11,377
1998 modern 402 #11,295
1999 modern 402 #11,403
2000 modern 389 #11,645
2001 modern 385 #11,534
2002 modern 395 #11,542
2003 modern 404 #11,191
2004 modern 386 #11,579
2005 modern 371 #11,842
2006 modern 374 #11,822
2007 modern 370 #12,073
2008 modern 368 #12,238
2009 modern 382 #12,150
2010 modern 392 #12,186
2011 modern 389 #12,106
2012 modern 381 #12,152
2013 modern 382 #12,337
2014 modern 384 #12,362
2015 modern 378 #12,405
2016 modern 377 #12,415

Geography

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Where Melletts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Henley-on-Thames, London parishes, Woodburn and Perran Arworthal. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolton, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames and Tameside. 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 Henley-on-Thames Oxfordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Woodburn Buckinghamshire
4 Perran Arworthal Cornwall
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolton 026 Bolton
2 Bolton 005 Bolton
3 Kensington and Chelsea 017 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Kingston upon Thames 013 Kingston upon Thames
5 Tameside 006 Tameside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mellett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mellett

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mellett, 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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Mellett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Mellett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Mellett is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mellett 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

Mellett falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mellett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mellett

The surname Mellett originated in England during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "melet," which means "small meal or repast." The name likely referred to someone who worked as a miller or dealt with the production of flour or meal.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Mellett dates back to the 13th century in the county of Gloucestershire. Records from that time show variations in spelling, such as "Mellet" and "Melet." These early spellings reflect the evolution of the name from its Old English roots.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Mellett, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1327. This historical record provides valuable insight into the geographical distribution of the name during that period.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in the records of the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, where a certain William Mellett was listed as a landowner in 1437. This connection to Stratford-upon-Avon suggests a possible link between the Mellett family and the renowned playwright William Shakespeare, who was born in the same town a century later.

During the 16th century, the Mellett surname spread to other parts of England, including Yorkshire and Oxfordshire. One notable bearer of the name was Sir Robert Mellett (1541-1612), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Yorkshire who served as the Lord Mayor of York in 1597.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Beverley, Yorkshire, where several Mellett families were listed as residing in the area. One prominent figure from this period was Richard Mellett (1623-1685), a Puritan minister and author who wrote several religious tracts.

By the 18th century, the Mellett surname had spread to other parts of the British Isles, including Scotland and Ireland. One notable Scottish bearer of the name was James Mellett (1735-1810), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Overall, the surname Mellett has a rich history that spans several centuries and reflects the diverse backgrounds and occupations of those who have borne this name throughout the years.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mellett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mellett 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. Lancashire leads with 39 Melletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.04x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 39 3.04x
Middlesex 23 2.12x
Buckinghamshire 20 30.56x
Berkshire 7 8.61x
Oxfordshire 4 5.98x
Yorkshire 4 0.37x
Kent 3 0.81x
Sussex 3 1.64x
Cheshire 2 0.84x
Durham 2 0.62x
Surrey 2 0.38x
Derbyshire 1 0.59x
Monmouthshire 1 1.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 14 Melletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.94x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 14 17.94x
Wooburn 10 1111.11x
Toxteth Park 8 18.39x
Manchester 7 12.12x
Tilehurst 7 426.83x
Great Missenden 6 740.74x
Hammersmith London 5 18.75x
Harlington 5 877.19x
St Marylebone London 5 8.65x
Henley On Thames 4 291.97x
Barton Upon Irwell 3 31.02x
Burnham 3 361.45x
Great Bolton 3 17.63x
Tottenham 3 17.40x
Deptford St Paul 2 7.02x
Islington London 2 1.91x
Monkwearmouth Shore 2 31.80x
West Ardsley 2 155.04x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 9.80x
Brighton 1 2.72x
Chesterfield 1 15.75x
Dartford 1 26.46x
Foulk Stapleford 1 1000.00x
Hastings Holy Trinity 1 74.07x
Hastings St Mary 1 22.03x
Heston 1 27.78x
Malpas 1 833.33x
Newton In Ashton Under 1 42.37x
Oldham 1 2.41x
Rainton Cum Newby 1 666.67x
Richmond 1 13.53x
Saunderton 1 625.00x
Shoreditch London 1 2.13x
St Martin In Fields 1 15.43x
Tanshelf 1 116.28x
Walton On Hill 1 14.37x
Warrington 1 6.57x
Woking 1 31.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Sarah 4
Bridget 3
Catherine 3
Margaret 3
Annie 2
Elizabeth 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Jane 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Agniss 1
Constance 1
Eliza 1
Hannah 1
Isabel 1
Kathleen 1
Louisa 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Minnie 1
Rose 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 10
John 8
Michael 7
Henry 6
William 6
Patrick 4
Edward 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
James 2
Martin 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
George 1
Gilbert 1
Quilla 1
Robt. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Mellett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mellett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 111 people were recorded with the Mellett surname. That placed it at #18,597 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mellett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 377 in 2016. That gives Mellett a modern rank of #12,415.

What does the Mellett surname mean?

Of French origin meaning "little hill or mound".

What does the Mellett map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mellett 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.