UK surname
A surname derived from the French word "mélodie," meaning melody or tune.
In the 1881 census there were 108 people recorded with the Mellody surname, ranking it #18,888 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 71, ranked #33,633, down from #18,888 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Denis in Walmgate, St George, North Meols and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mellody is 140 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 34.3%.
1881 census count
108
Ranked #18,888
Modern count
71
2016, ranked #33,633
Peak year
1891
140 bearers
Map years
4
1881 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mellody surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mellody surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 68 | #21,302 |
| 1861 | historical | 57 | #26,718 |
| 1881 | historical | 108 | #18,888 |
| 1891 | historical | 140 | #19,193 |
| 1901 | historical | 118 | #20,721 |
| 1911 | historical | 116 | #20,850 |
| 1997 | modern | 77 | #29,874 |
| 1998 | modern | 80 | #29,966 |
| 1999 | modern | 84 | #29,700 |
| 2000 | modern | 82 | #29,922 |
| 2001 | modern | 78 | #30,168 |
| 2002 | modern | 78 | #30,601 |
| 2003 | modern | 76 | #30,883 |
| 2004 | modern | 71 | #31,578 |
| 2005 | modern | 67 | #32,196 |
| 2006 | modern | 67 | #32,532 |
| 2007 | modern | 66 | #32,948 |
| 2008 | modern | 69 | #32,962 |
| 2009 | modern | 71 | #33,102 |
| 2010 | modern | 71 | #33,401 |
| 2011 | modern | 66 | #33,768 |
| 2012 | modern | 60 | #34,287 |
| 2013 | modern | 73 | #33,557 |
| 2014 | modern | 72 | #33,647 |
| 2015 | modern | 71 | #33,666 |
| 2016 | modern | 71 | #33,633 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Denis in Walmgate, St George, North Meols, Manchester, Blackburn and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Denis in Walmgate, St George | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 2 | North Meols | Lancashire |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Blackburn | Lancashire |
| 5 | Bolton-le-Moors | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mellody surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mellody, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mellody surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mellody household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mellody is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mellody is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mellody, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MELLODY has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "melode" or "melodie," which referred to a pleasing melody or song. This suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational surname for a minstrel, singer, or performer of music.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name MELLODY can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the late 12th century, where a person named William Melodi is listed as a taxpayer. The name appeared in various spellings over the centuries, including Melodye, Meludy, and Mellody.
In the 13th century, a manuscript from the Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk mentions a monk named Brother Melodi, who was known for his exceptional singing voice and musical talents. This provides evidence of the name's association with music and performers during that time.
The MELLODY surname has a strong connection to several place names in England, particularly in the county of Devon. The village of Mellowdye and the nearby Mellowdye Farm were likely named after an early bearer of the surname, indicating their presence in the area during the medieval period.
Notable individuals with the surname MELLODY include:
1. Sir John Mellody (c. 1420 - 1492), a landowner and Member of Parliament for Devon during the reign of King Henry VI. 2. Edward Mellody (1568 - 1638), a composer and organist at the Chapel Royal during the reign of King James I. 3. Anne Mellody (1642 - 1718), a renowned singer and performer in the court of King Charles II. 4. William Mellody (1773 - 1835), a writer and poet whose works celebrated the beauty of the English countryside. 5. Margaret Mellody (1826 - 1897), a philanthropist and benefactor who founded several schools and orphanages in London.
While the MELLODY surname may not be as widely known as some others, it has a rich history deeply rooted in England's musical and cultural heritage, spanning several centuries and various regions of the country.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mellody surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 91 Mellodys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.28x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 91 | 7.28x |
| Yorkshire | 16 | 1.53x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.43x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 47 Mellodys recorded in 1881 and an index of 141.31x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Blackburn | 47 | 141.31x |
| Turton | 10 | 487.80x |
| Birkdale | 7 | 221.52x |
| York St Margaret | 7 | 1076.92x |
| Broughton In Salford | 5 | 43.74x |
| Rumworth | 5 | 279.33x |
| Headingley Cum Burley | 4 | 59.52x |
| Heap | 4 | 60.33x |
| Sharples | 4 | 294.12x |
| Chorley | 2 | 28.53x |
| Manchester | 2 | 3.56x |
| Scarborough | 2 | 21.07x |
| Agden In Altrincham | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Batley | 1 | 10.08x |
| Farnworth | 1 | 13.35x |
| Fulwood | 1 | 74.07x |
| Little Bolton | 1 | 6.22x |
| Newton | 1 | 10.38x |
| Pendleton In Salford | 1 | 6.72x |
| Warley | 1 | 33.11x |
| York Holy Trinity | 1 | 111.11x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mellody surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mellody surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Mellody households.
FAQ
In 1881, 108 people were recorded with the Mellody surname. That placed it at #18,888 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 71 in 2016. That gives Mellody a modern rank of #33,633.
A surname derived from the French word "mélodie," meaning melody or tune.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mellody bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.