NameCensus.

UK surname

Melo

A surname of Italian and Portuguese origin, derived from the word "melo" meaning "honey" or "sweet."

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Melo surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 263, ranked #16,210, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Breckland, Great Yarmouth and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Melo is 263 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26200.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

263

2016, ranked #16,210

Peak year

2016

263 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Melo had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 263 in 2016, ranked #16,210.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Melo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Melo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Melo 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 1 #33,412
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 41 #33,552
1998 modern 47 #33,197
1999 modern 50 #33,041
2000 modern 52 #32,916
2001 modern 52 #32,764
2002 modern 58 #32,564
2003 modern 68 #31,689
2004 modern 85 #30,132
2005 modern 130 #23,848
2006 modern 150 #21,915
2007 modern 174 #20,166
2008 modern 183 #19,735
2009 modern 205 #18,722
2010 modern 212 #18,726
2011 modern 200 #19,280
2012 modern 209 #18,659
2013 modern 224 #18,080
2014 modern 240 #17,387
2015 modern 247 #16,941
2016 modern 263 #16,210

Geography

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Where Melos 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 Breckland, Great Yarmouth, Brent, Bromley and Harrow. 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 Breckland 005 Breckland
2 Great Yarmouth 006 Great Yarmouth
3 Brent 010 Brent
4 Bromley 011 Bromley
5 Harrow 009 Harrow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Melo

These lists show first names that appear often with the Melo 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 Melo

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Melo surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Melo 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Melo is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Melo is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Melo 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 Melo is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Melo

The surname Melo has its origins in the Portuguese language and is believed to have originated in the northern region of Portugal. It is derived from the Latin word "melum," which means "apple" or "fruit." The name likely referred to someone who either cultivated or sold apples or other fruits.

The earliest known records of the surname Melo date back to the 12th century, when it was mentioned in various medieval documents from the region. One notable mention is in the "Livro Velho de Linhagens" (Old Book of Lineages), a Portuguese genealogical record from the 13th century, where the Melo family is listed as one of the noble families of the time.

In the 14th century, the Melo family played a significant role in the political and military affairs of Portugal. Martim Vasques de Melo (1285-1346) was a prominent Portuguese knight and military commander who fought in the Portuguese War of Independence against Castile. He was rewarded for his services by King Afonso IV with land grants and titles.

Another notable figure with the surname Melo was Vasco Martins de Melo (1380-1455), a Portuguese explorer and navigator who participated in the early voyages of exploration along the West African coast. He served as a navigator and cartographer under the famous Prince Henry the Navigator.

In the 16th century, the Melo family expanded their influence to the Portuguese colonies in Africa and Asia. Francisco de Melo (1490-1536) was a Portuguese explorer and colonial administrator who served as the governor of Portuguese India from 1521 to 1524.

During the 17th century, the Melo surname gained prominence in the literary and philosophical circles of Portugal. Francisco Manuel de Melo (1608-1666) was a celebrated Portuguese author, historian, and philosopher known for his works such as "Epanáforas de Vária História Portuguesa" (Epanalepses of Various Portuguese History) and "Carta de Guia de Casados" (Guide for Married Couples).

Over the centuries, the Melo surname has spread to various parts of the world, particularly to former Portuguese colonies and territories, including Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, and Goa, India. Notable individuals with the surname Melo include Raimundo Faísca Melo (1934-2021), a Brazilian footballer who played for several clubs in the 1950s and 1960s, and António Agostinho Neto (1922-1979), the first president of Angola and a prominent figure in the country's independence movement.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Melo families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Melo 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 1 Melos recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.74x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1 8.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bury in Lancashire leads with 1 Melos recorded in 1881 and an index of 769.23x.

Place Total Index
Bury 1 769.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1

FAQ

Melo surname: questions and answers

How common was the Melo surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Melo surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Melo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 263 in 2016. That gives Melo a modern rank of #16,210.

What does the Melo surname mean?

A surname of Italian and Portuguese origin, derived from the word "melo" meaning "honey" or "sweet."

What does the Melo map show?

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