NameCensus.

UK surname

Mellow

An English surname likely derived from the Middle English word "melowe" meaning gentle or sweet.

In the 1881 census there were 219 people recorded with the Mellow surname, ranking it #12,122 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 136, ranked #25,377, down from #12,122 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Dennis, Gluvias and St Austell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and Wyre.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mellow is 288 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 37.9%.

1881 census count

219

Ranked #12,122

Modern count

136

2016, ranked #25,377

Peak year

1891

288 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mellow had 219 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,122 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 136 in 2016, ranked #25,377.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 288 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mellow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mellow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mellow 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 201 #10,364
1861 historical 221 #11,031
1881 historical 219 #12,122
1891 historical 288 #11,450
1901 historical 174 #16,520
1911 historical 199 #15,016
1997 modern 183 #18,642
1998 modern 180 #19,298
1999 modern 169 #20,233
2000 modern 155 #21,341
2001 modern 135 #22,945
2002 modern 144 #22,501
2003 modern 140 #22,634
2004 modern 130 #23,902
2005 modern 129 #23,963
2006 modern 132 #23,834
2007 modern 130 #24,389
2008 modern 130 #24,695
2009 modern 135 #24,594
2010 modern 140 #24,569
2011 modern 130 #25,547
2012 modern 116 #27,550
2013 modern 123 #26,974
2014 modern 132 #25,971
2015 modern 132 #25,859
2016 modern 136 #25,377

Geography

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Where Mellows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Dennis, Gluvias, St Austell, Sheffield and St Stephen in Brannel. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and Wyre. 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 St Dennis Cornwall
2 Gluvias Cornwall
3 St Austell Cornwall
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 St Stephen in Brannel Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 030 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 024 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 039 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 011 Cornwall
5 Wyre 001 Wyre

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mellow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mellow

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Mellow surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mellow household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Mellow is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mellow 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

Mellow falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mellow 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 Mellow, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mellow

The surname Mellow is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "melu" or "mele," which means "meal" or "flour." This name likely originated in the medieval period, referring to someone who worked with flour or meal, perhaps a miller or a baker.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Mellow can be traced back to the 13th century in various English records. One of the earliest documented references is found in the Pipe Rolls of Suffolk from 1230, where a person named William Meleward is mentioned. This name is believed to be an early variant of Mellow, combining the elements "mele" (meal) and "ward" (guardian or keeper).

In the 14th century, the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, where a John Melleward is listed. This spelling variation further solidifies the connection between the name and its flour-related origins.

One notable historical figure with the surname Mellow was Sir John Mellow (c. 1550-1629), an English merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1609. He was known for his involvement in the Virginia Company, which established the first permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown.

Another influential individual with this surname was William Mellow (1756-1832), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He gained recognition for his valiant actions during the Battle of Camperdown in 1797.

In the literary world, Thomas Mellow (1683-1767) was an English poet and playwright who wrote several works, including the play "The Conscious Lovers" and the poem "The Englishman in Paris."

The surname Mellow has also been associated with place names, such as Mellow in Derbyshire, England, which may have influenced the surname's development in certain regions.

Additionally, the name appears in various historical documents, such as the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Wiltshire from 1332, where a John Melowe is recorded, and the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379, which lists a William Melowe.

These examples demonstrate the longstanding presence of the surname Mellow in English history, with its origins linked to the humble yet essential trade of flour production and baking.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mellow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mellow 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. Cornwall leads with 97 Mellows recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.92x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 97 39.92x
Yorkshire 25 1.18x
Staffordshire 18 2.48x
Nottinghamshire 14 4.84x
Devon 12 2.69x
Lancashire 11 0.43x
Ayrshire 10 6.23x
Leicestershire 7 2.94x
Derbyshire 6 1.79x
Cheshire 4 0.84x
Middlesex 4 0.19x
Lanarkshire 3 0.43x
Surrey 2 0.19x
Warwickshire 2 0.37x
Essex 1 0.24x
Hampshire 1 0.23x
Renfrewshire 1 0.60x
Royal Navy 1 3.91x
Somerset 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Stephen In Brannel in Cornwall leads with 27 Mellows recorded in 1881 and an index of 1216.22x.

Place Total Index
St Stephen In Brannel 27 1216.22x
St Austell 20 240.96x
Idle 11 111.56x
Falmouth 10 116.28x
Kilwinning 8 154.14x
St Gluvias Penryn 7 358.97x
St Stephen 7 813.95x
Handsworth 6 33.61x
Manchester 6 5.24x
Oakthorpe Donsthorpe 6 937.50x
Hunslet 5 15.08x
Mevagissey 5 310.56x
St Cleer 5 236.97x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 6.51x
Wellow 5 1851.85x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 20.19x
Bodmin 4 99.50x
Brewood 4 191.39x
Lenton 4 58.74x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 11.62x
Radford Lenton 4 555.56x
Derby St Werburgh 3 15.46x
Fowey 3 270.27x
Plymouth Charles The 3 15.24x
St Dennis 3 329.67x
Alfreton 2 19.59x
Barony 2 1.14x
Blackburn 2 2.95x
Bromley London 2 4.24x
Eccleshall 2 72.73x
Exeter St Sidwell 2 19.55x
Linkinhorne 2 118.34x
Sculcoates 2 5.93x
Stonehouse East 2 88.11x
Wrenbury Cum Frith 2 540.54x
Abbots Bromley 1 93.46x
Aldersey 1 1250.00x
Aldershot 1 6.78x
Ardrossan 1 17.99x
Aston 1 0.67x
Birmingham 1 0.55x
Caterham 1 21.65x
Dunnington In York 1 181.82x
Eastwood 1 9.77x
Everton 1 1.23x
Farnworth 1 6.55x
Fulham London 1 3.21x
Hucknall Torkard 1 13.64x
Illogan 1 15.55x
Lanteglos By Fowey 1 101.01x
Osbaston 1 625.00x
Richmond 1 6.83x
Roche 1 81.30x
Roos 1 256.41x
Royal Navy 1 4.57x
Runcorn 1 9.16x
Shoreditch London 1 1.07x
Shotts 1 12.03x
St Ewe 1 135.14x
St Quivox 1 18.42x
Toxteth Park 1 1.16x
Wanstead 1 13.48x
West Teignmouth 1 29.24x
Weston Super Mare 1 11.47x
Wheatley 1 136.99x
Whittington 1 21.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Jane 8
Elizabeth 6
Annie 5
Bessie 5
Fanny 5
Grace 4
Ellen 3
Harriett 3
Martha 3
Sarah 3
Ann 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
E. 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Hannah 2
Louisa 2
A. 1
Alice 1
Alma 1
Amelia 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
C. 1
Charlotte 1
Diana 1
Elisa 1
Elisabeth 1
Eliza.J. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
G.E.K.H. 1
H. 1
Harriet 1
Herriot 1
Johanna 1
Julia 1
Lavinia 1
M. 1
Maria 1
May 1
Philippa 1
Polly 1
Rebecca 1
Selina 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Mellow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mellow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 219 people were recorded with the Mellow surname. That placed it at #12,122 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mellow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 136 in 2016. That gives Mellow a modern rank of #25,377.

What does the Mellow surname mean?

An English surname likely derived from the Middle English word "melowe" meaning gentle or sweet.

What does the Mellow map show?

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