NameCensus.

UK surname

Mellish

A surname derived from a place name meaning "dweller by the fertile meadow".

In the 1881 census there were 631 people recorded with the Mellish surname, ranking it #5,619 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,011, ranked #5,754, down from #5,619 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and Richmond. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolsover, Stroud and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mellish is 1,044 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.2%.

1881 census count

631

Ranked #5,619

Modern count

1,011

2016, ranked #5,754

Peak year

1998

1,044 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mellish had 631 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,619 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,011 in 2016, ranked #5,754.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 888 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mellish surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mellish surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mellish 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 381 #6,272
1861 historical 315 #8,071
1881 historical 631 #5,619
1891 historical 682 #5,739
1901 historical 863 #5,302
1911 historical 888 #5,012
1997 modern 1,019 #5,407
1998 modern 1,044 #5,470
1999 modern 1,036 #5,548
2000 modern 1,018 #5,599
2001 modern 1,005 #5,559
2002 modern 999 #5,691
2003 modern 970 #5,735
2004 modern 981 #5,682
2005 modern 945 #5,810
2006 modern 963 #5,727
2007 modern 956 #5,823
2008 modern 966 #5,804
2009 modern 969 #5,907
2010 modern 1,000 #5,887
2011 modern 1,013 #5,756
2012 modern 989 #5,791
2013 modern 1,007 #5,785
2014 modern 1,031 #5,716
2015 modern 1,017 #5,730
2016 modern 1,011 #5,754

Geography

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Where Mellishs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch, Richmond and Willesden. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolsover, Stroud, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bath and North East Somerset and Chesterfield. 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 London parishes London 1
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 Richmond Surrey
4 London parishes London 3
5 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolsover 003 Bolsover
2 Stroud 007 Stroud
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 005 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 Bath and North East Somerset 021 Bath and North East Somerset
5 Chesterfield 002 Chesterfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mellish

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mellish

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Mellish surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Mellish 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Mellish 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

Mellish is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mellish falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mellish 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mellish

The surname Mellish is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "mellisc," which means "honey-like" or "sweet." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname or occupational name for someone who worked with honey or had a sweet disposition.

One of the earliest known records of the Mellish surname appears in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, where it is spelled "Mellysch." This document lists individuals who were landowners or tenants in the county at the time. The variant spelling "Melishe" can also be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327.

In the 15th century, the Mellish family seems to have been concentrated in the counties of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. The name was often associated with the village of Mellis in Suffolk, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

A notable figure with the Mellish surname was Sir John Mellish (1611-1671), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Nottingham between 1658 and 1659. He was also a supporter of the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War.

Another prominent individual was William Mellish (1676-1752), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Nottinghamshire. He purchased the estate of Blyth in Nottinghamshire in 1718, which remained in the Mellish family for several generations.

In the 18th century, the Mellish family gained further prominence through Charles Mellish (1737-1797), who served as the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire in 1781. His son, also named Charles Mellish (1770-1846), was a prominent industrialist and Member of Parliament for Nottingham from 1806 to 1818.

The Mellish surname has also been associated with the village of Mellish in Derbyshire, which was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Meleche." This place name likely shares a similar etymology with the surname, further reinforcing the connection between the name and the concept of sweetness or honey.

It is worth noting that the Mellish family crest features a bee or wasp, which may be a symbolic representation of the name's association with honey or sweetness.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mellish families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mellish 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 124 Mellishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.00x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 124 2.00x
Surrey 117 3.86x
Kent 49 2.31x
Dorset 48 11.77x
Yorkshire 42 0.68x
Lancashire 38 0.52x
Essex 30 2.45x
Somerset 27 2.70x
Derbyshire 19 1.95x
Cumberland 17 3.18x
Sussex 15 1.43x
Hampshire 14 1.10x
Devon 10 0.77x
Monmouthshire 9 2.00x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.96x
Buckinghamshire 7 1.86x
Channel Islands 7 3.80x
Hertfordshire 7 1.63x
Glamorgan 6 0.55x
Argyllshire 5 2.89x
Renfrewshire 5 1.04x
Durham 4 0.22x
Shropshire 4 0.75x
West Lothian 4 4.27x
Northamptonshire 3 0.51x
Staffordshire 3 0.14x
Warwickshire 3 0.19x
Lanarkshire 2 0.10x
Northumberland 2 0.22x
Wiltshire 2 0.36x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x
Inverness-shire 1 0.54x
Leicestershire 1 0.15x
Lincolnshire 1 0.10x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.70x
Royal Navy 1 1.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 31 Mellishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.72x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 31 5.72x
Battersea 21 9.18x
Islington London 18 2.99x
Newington 18 7.84x
Portland 17 77.52x
West Ham 16 5.91x
Deptford St Nicholas 15 89.18x
Headingley Cum Burley 15 37.84x
Richmond 14 33.00x
Stoke Newington London 13 26.86x
Milton 11 347.00x
Dalston 10 242.13x
Elmton 10 909.09x
Friern Barnet 10 73.05x
Ratcliffe London 10 29.15x
Shoreditch London 10 3.71x
Weymouth 10 129.37x
Brighton 9 4.26x
Ferry Fryston 9 375.00x
Hammersmith London 9 5.88x
Swanage 9 178.93x
Whitwell 9 232.56x
Plumstead 8 11.32x
St Marylebone London 8 2.41x
Toxteth Park 8 3.20x
Wandsworth 8 13.37x
Bedminster 7 7.45x
Clutton 7 322.58x
Kingston On Thames 7 9.62x
Lower Darwen 7 72.31x
Manchester 7 2.11x
Mile End Old Town 7 7.14x
Wolverton 7 90.09x
Fryerning 6 400.00x
Llanwonno 6 15.43x
Lower Machen 6 271.49x
Lympsham 6 618.56x
Sutton 6 27.38x
Willesden 6 10.24x
Worksop 6 24.15x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.85x
Cathcart 5 19.19x
Chigwell 5 43.18x
Deptford St Paul 5 3.06x
East Grinstead 5 33.72x
Knapdale South 5 84.18x
Laughton En Le Morthen 5 352.11x
Sebergham 5 423.73x
St Helier 5 8.34x
Bow London 4 5.06x
Bury 4 4.75x
Camberwell 4 1.01x
Dalton In Furness 4 14.05x
Hackney London 4 1.15x
Lingfield 4 67.80x
Over Darwen 4 6.79x
Shadwell London 4 23.00x
South Shields 4 24.29x
St Albans 4 45.56x
Stoke Damerel 4 4.42x
Whitburn 4 29.59x
Willey 4 1081.08x
Woolwich 4 5.11x
Edenbridge 3 72.12x
Frampton 3 333.33x
Hampton London 3 29.38x
Hunslet 3 3.12x
Lewisham 3 2.65x
Mynyddyslwyn 3 16.93x
Paddington London 3 1.31x
St Luke London 3 3.01x
Winestead 3 857.14x
Bedlington 2 6.48x
Canford Magna 2 85.11x
Chapel Allerton 2 377.36x
Chewton Mendip 2 121.21x
Normanton 2 10.81x
Silverdale 2 192.31x
Walthamstow 2 4.53x
Wolverhampton 2 1.24x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 42
John 33
George 24
James 20
Thomas 17
Charles 16
Arthur 12
Walter 10
Henry 9
Edward 8
Richard 8
Robert 7
Frederick 6
Albert 5
Alfred 5
Alexander 4
Ernest 4
Fredk. 4
Harry 4
Herbert 4
Isaac 4
Frank 3
Leopold 3
Samuel 3
Andrew 2
Frederic 2
Peter 2
Augustin 1
Claud 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Douglas 1
Ebenezar 1
H. 1
Hannibal 1
J.B. 1
Jas.Cornelius 1
Jno. 1
Joseph 1
Lennard 1
Lucy 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Mortimer 1
Paul 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Rowland 1
Saml. 1
Septimus 1

FAQ

Mellish surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mellish surname in 1881?

In 1881, 631 people were recorded with the Mellish surname. That placed it at #5,619 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mellish surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,011 in 2016. That gives Mellish a modern rank of #5,754.

What does the Mellish surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name meaning "dweller by the fertile meadow".

What does the Mellish map show?

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