NameCensus.

UK surname

Melly

A variant spelling of the surname Melly, derived from a nickname for the given name Melville.

In the 1881 census there were 57 people recorded with the Melly surname, ranking it #25,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 288, ranked #15,180, up from #25,575 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Winchester, Roystonhill, Blochairn, and Provanmill and Bromley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Melly is 302 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 405.3%.

1881 census count

57

Ranked #25,575

Modern count

288

2016, ranked #15,180

Peak year

2010

302 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Melly had 57 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,575 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 288 in 2016, ranked #15,180.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 91 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Melly surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Melly surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Melly 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 29 #28,082
1861 historical 91 #22,206
1881 historical 57 #25,575
1891 historical 75 #27,414
1901 historical 82 #25,019
1911 historical 63 #26,537
1997 modern 218 #16,704
1998 modern 238 #16,218
1999 modern 256 #15,557
2000 modern 267 #15,055
2001 modern 258 #15,194
2002 modern 264 #15,236
2003 modern 272 #14,746
2004 modern 270 #14,913
2005 modern 276 #14,579
2006 modern 272 #14,834
2007 modern 265 #15,295
2008 modern 269 #15,260
2009 modern 282 #15,059
2010 modern 302 #14,661
2011 modern 289 #14,974
2012 modern 288 #14,934
2013 modern 297 #14,844
2014 modern 290 #15,203
2015 modern 290 #15,117
2016 modern 288 #15,180

Geography

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Where Mellys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Winchester, Roystonhill, Blochairn, and Provanmill, Bromley, Greenwich and Test Valley. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Winchester 003 Winchester
2 Roystonhill, Blochairn, and Provanmill Glasgow City
3 Bromley 022 Bromley
4 Greenwich 027 Greenwich
5 Test Valley 001 Test Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Melly

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Melly

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Melly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Melly household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Melly 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

Melly is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Melly falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Melly is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Melly

The surname Melly is believed to have originated in Italy, specifically in the region of Lombardy. It is thought to have derived from the Old Italian word "mella," which means "honey" or "sweet." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone with a sweet personality or disposition.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Melly can be found in a document from the 13th century, where it appeared as "Melli." This variation in spelling was common during that time period, as standardized spelling conventions had not yet been established.

During the Renaissance period, the Melly family was prominent in the city of Milan, where they were known for their involvement in the arts and literature. One notable figure from this time was Antonio Melly, a renowned poet and philosopher who lived from 1450 to 1520.

In the 16th century, the Melly name appeared in the records of the Republic of Venice, where several members of the family held influential positions within the government and the mercantile trade industry. One such individual was Marco Melly (1523-1587), a successful merchant and diplomat who represented the Republic's interests in various parts of Europe.

As the Melly family expanded and migrated to other regions of Italy, the name also took on various spellings, such as "Meli" and "Melle." This diversity in spelling can be seen in historical records from different parts of the country.

In the 18th century, the Melly name gained prominence in the southern region of Calabria, where a branch of the family established itself as landowners and influential figures in the local community. One notable individual from this period was Giuseppe Melly (1740-1812), a respected jurist and legal scholar whose works on civil law were widely studied.

Another significant figure was Francesca Melly (1798-1872), a philanthropist and advocate for women's education. She founded several schools and institutions dedicated to providing educational opportunities for girls in her native Calabria.

During the 19th century, the Melly name also found its way to other parts of Europe and even across the Atlantic. For instance, John Melly (1827-1903) was a British businessman and politician who served as a member of parliament for Liverpool. In the United States, Charles Melly (1854-1921) was a prominent architect who designed several notable buildings in New York City.

Throughout its history, the surname Melly has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, merchants, and public figures. While the name may have originated from a humble nickname, it has since evolved to represent a rich tapestry of cultural and historical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Melly families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Melly 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 19 Mellys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.28x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 19 3.28x
Hampshire 9 9.01x
Lanarkshire 8 5.07x
Aberdeenshire 3 6.64x
Worcestershire 3 4.71x
Warwickshire 2 1.63x
Yorkshire 2 0.41x
Angus 1 2.21x
Dunbartonshire 1 7.63x
Merionethshire 1 11.21x
Sussex 1 1.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Alverstoke in Hampshire leads with 9 Mellys recorded in 1881 and an index of 248.62x.

Place Total Index
Alverstoke 9 248.62x
Liverpool 7 19.92x
Govan 6 15.38x
Garston 5 292.40x
Aberdeen Old Machar 3 31.81x
Kings Norton 3 52.54x
Ardwick 2 38.31x
Barony 2 5.01x
Hawkshead Monk Coniston 2 1000.00x
Rugby 2 120.48x
Toxteth Park 2 10.21x
Dolgelley 1 151.52x
Dundee 1 5.93x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 10.17x
Lewes St Ann 1 357.14x
Linthorpe 1 34.72x
Old Kilpatrick 1 64.52x
Wavertree 1 54.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ellen 3
Emma 2
Louisa 2
Ann 1
Anne 1
Elizabeth 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Jane 1
Louise 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
George 3
Edward 2
William 2
Agustine 1
Agustus 1
Albert 1
Andre 1
Charles 1
Chas.Hy. 1
Ernest 1
Henry 1
Joseph 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1

Top occupations

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 Melly households.

FAQ

Melly surname: questions and answers

How common was the Melly surname in 1881?

In 1881, 57 people were recorded with the Melly surname. That placed it at #25,575 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Melly surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 288 in 2016. That gives Melly a modern rank of #15,180.

What does the Melly surname mean?

A variant spelling of the surname Melly, derived from a nickname for the given name Melville.

What does the Melly map show?

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