Mells

The surname Mells is of English origin, and it first appeared in the historical records during the late 12th century in the county of Somerset. The name is derived from the Old English words "mill" and "hyll," which together mean "mill on a hill." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name lived near a mill situated on a hill in Somerset.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Somerset from 1196, where a person named Robert de Melles is listed. This indicates that the name was already well-established in the area by the late 12th century.

The name Mells is also closely associated with the village of the same name in Somerset. This village, which dates back to at least the 11th century, was once known as "Melles" or "Mulles," as recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the name Mells was Sir John de Melles, a knight who served under King Edward I during the Welsh Wars of the late 13th century. He was born around 1250 and died in 1307.

Another prominent individual with the surname Mells was Robert Mells, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in Somerset during the 15th century. He was born in 1420 and died in 1492.

During the 16th century, the name Mells appeared in various records related to the English Reformation. One such record mentions a William Mells, a Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake in 1558 during the reign of Queen Mary I.

In the 17th century, a notable figure was Sir John Mells, a Member of Parliament for Somerset who served during the English Civil War. He was born in 1605 and died in 1678.

Another individual of note was Thomas Mells, a prominent lawyer and judge who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He was born in 1660 and died in 1727.

It's worth noting that while the surname Mells is primarily associated with Somerset, it has also been found in other parts of England, particularly in the neighboring counties of Wiltshire and Dorset.