NameCensus.

UK surname

Melrose

A locational surname referring to the town of Melrose, located in the Scottish Borders region.

In the 1881 census there were 1,244 people recorded with the Melrose surname, ranking it #3,266 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,524, ranked #4,064, down from #3,266 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kelso, Melrose and Hawick and Wilton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newtongrange, Mayfield and Amber Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Melrose is 1,551 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.5%.

1881 census count

1,244

Ranked #3,266

Modern count

1,524

2016, ranked #4,064

Peak year

2010

1,551 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Melrose had 1,244 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,266 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,524 in 2016, ranked #4,064.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,481 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Melrose surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Melrose surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Melrose 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 832 #3,254
1861 historical 884 #3,139
1881 historical 1,244 #3,266
1891 historical 1,260 #3,423
1901 historical 1,481 #3,455
1911 historical 433 #8,762
1997 modern 1,457 #4,011
1998 modern 1,512 #4,017
1999 modern 1,503 #4,076
2000 modern 1,475 #4,121
2001 modern 1,433 #4,138
2002 modern 1,460 #4,156
2003 modern 1,416 #4,180
2004 modern 1,417 #4,181
2005 modern 1,438 #4,101
2006 modern 1,468 #4,041
2007 modern 1,471 #4,069
2008 modern 1,478 #4,084
2009 modern 1,534 #4,037
2010 modern 1,551 #4,075
2011 modern 1,522 #4,104
2012 modern 1,469 #4,153
2013 modern 1,479 #4,197
2014 modern 1,504 #4,170
2015 modern 1,501 #4,137
2016 modern 1,524 #4,064

Geography

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Where Melroses are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kelso, Melrose, Hawick and Wilton, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newtongrange, Mayfield, Amber Valley, Wyndford and St Boswells and Newtown Area. 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 Kelso Roxburgh
2 Melrose Roxburgh
3 Hawick and Wilton Roxburgh
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newtongrange Midlothian
2 Mayfield Midlothian
3 Amber Valley 006 Amber Valley
4 Wyndford Glasgow City
5 St Boswells and Newtown Area Scottish Borders

Forenames

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First names often paired with Melrose

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Melrose

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Melrose, 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 Melrose surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Melrose 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Melrose is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Melrose is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Melrose falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Melrose

The surname MELROSE originated in Scotland during the 12th century. It was a locational name derived from the town of Melrose in Roxburghshire, which itself was named after a Celtic word meaning "bare moor" or "naked ridge."

The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to 1153, when it appeared as "de Malros" in the Melrose Regality Records. This referred to someone who hailed from the town of Melrose, which was home to the famous Melrose Abbey, founded in 1136 by Cistercian monks.

During the Middle Ages, the Melrose family played a prominent role in the region, with several members holding positions of authority within the Church and local nobility. One notable figure was Sir William Melrose, who served as the Abbot of Melrose from 1297 to 1317.

As the name spread across Scotland, variations in spelling emerged, including Melros, Melross, and Mellrose. These alternative forms were common in historical documents, such as the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England.

By the 16th century, the MELROSE surname had also gained a foothold in England, particularly in the northern counties. One of the earliest recorded English bearers was John Melrose, born in 1542 in Northumberland, who later became a merchant in London.

Other notable individuals with the MELROSE surname include:

1. Thomas Melrose (1768-1835), a Scottish poet and writer from Crieff, Perthshire, known for his works on Scottish history and folklore.

2. Andrew Melrose (1836-1901), a Scottish-born Australian politician who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.

3. William Melrose (1879-1962), a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the 16th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia from 1932 to 1937.

4. Robert Melrose (1923-2005), an American mathematician and professor at MIT, renowned for his contributions to partial differential equations and mathematical analysis.

5. Iain Melrose (born 1950), a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for clubs like Aberdeen and Rangers in the 1970s and 1980s.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Melrose families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Melrose 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. Midlothian leads with 287 Melroses recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.92x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 287 18.92x
Selkirkshire 131 127.85x
Lanarkshire 117 3.19x
Peeblesshire 87 163.32x
Roxburghshire 80 39.00x
East Lothian 52 34.66x
Northumberland 46 2.73x
Lancashire 44 0.33x
Durham 43 1.28x
Yorkshire 39 0.35x
Renfrewshire 37 4.22x
Berwickshire 35 25.52x
Middlesex 19 0.17x
Perthshire 19 3.74x
Dumfriesshire 9 3.60x
Cheshire 8 0.32x
Derbyshire 7 0.39x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.46x
Ross-shire 7 2.25x
Stirlingshire 7 1.68x
Surrey 7 0.13x
West Lothian 7 4.10x
Fife 6 0.89x
Kent 6 0.16x
Aberdeenshire 5 0.48x
Angus 5 0.48x
Argyllshire 4 1.27x
Ayrshire 4 0.47x
Bedfordshire 4 0.68x
Buteshire 4 5.83x
Denbighshire 4 0.94x
Gloucestershire 4 0.18x
Inverness-shire 4 1.18x
Dunbartonshire 3 0.99x
Kirkcudbrightshire 3 1.83x
Devon 2 0.08x
Essex 2 0.09x
Hampshire 2 0.09x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.44x
Nairnshire 1 2.89x
Sutherland 1 1.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 112 Melroses recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.35x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 112 18.35x
Galashiels 79 208.55x
Barony 40 4.32x
Peebles 30 190.60x
South Leith 30 17.57x
Melrose 27 104.69x
Glasgow 21 3.23x
Kelso 18 88.06x
Hawick 17 37.03x
Stow 17 217.95x
Bishopwearmouth 16 5.53x
Yarrow 16 645.16x
Lasswade 15 43.24x
North Leith 15 21.36x
Edinburgh St Georges 14 44.46x
Govan 14 1.55x
Melrose 14 78.92x
Traquair 13 440.68x
West Greenock 13 8.25x
Eddleston 12 433.21x
Manchester 12 1.99x
Innerleithen 11 77.79x
Coldstream 10 100.81x
Port Glasgow 9 21.21x
Selkirk 9 31.17x
Tynemouth 9 9.97x
Aberlady 8 205.66x
Athelstaneford 8 270.27x
Colinton 8 47.28x
East Greenock 8 9.65x
Edinburgh Canongate 8 20.72x
Gladsmuir 8 119.58x
Glencorse 8 137.22x
Gordon 8 246.91x
High Leigh 8 242.42x
Libberton 8 329.22x
Moffat 8 70.05x
Whitekirk Tynninghame 8 195.12x
Clifton In York 7 29.83x
Culter 7 313.90x
Earsdon 7 51.06x
Framwellgate 7 35.07x
Gateshead 7 2.77x
Greatham 7 244.76x
Limehouse London 7 5.63x
Manor 7 654.21x
Branxton 6 697.67x
Callander 6 71.60x
Chirnside 6 102.04x
Edinburgh St Marys 6 20.35x
Edinburgh Tolbooth 6 67.95x
Heslington St Paul 6 697.67x
Lanark 6 20.36x
Litchurch 6 8.41x
Logie Wester 6 107.33x
Muckhart 6 255.32x
Newbattle 6 46.26x
Oxnam 6 226.42x
Shotts 6 13.69x
St Boswells 6 161.29x
Tonge With Haulgh 6 22.94x
Westgate 6 5.75x
Westoe 6 3.14x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 5 2.55x
Amble 5 65.19x
Carluke 5 15.03x
Edinburgh Old 5 54.29x
Kirknewton East 5 78.86x
Over Wyresdale 5 251.26x
Sinnington 5 409.84x
Smailholm 5 289.02x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 1.36x
Dalkeith 4 13.36x
Dalmeny 4 61.35x
Edinburgh Greenside 4 19.95x
Garvald 4 135.14x
Morebattle 4 102.04x
North Middleton In 4 869.57x
Penicuik 4 19.40x
West Linton 4 92.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 13
Margaret 13
Jane 11
Sarah 8
Isabella 6
Agnes 4
Eliza 3
Jessie 3
Ann 2
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Eleanor 2
Emily 2
Grace 2
Janet 2
Lilian 2
Lucy 2
Alice 1
Annie 1
Betsy 1
Christiana 1
Elison 1
Elizb. 1
Ellen 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Isab. 1
Jennet 1
Joan 1
Louisa 1
Lousian 1
Marcella 1
Marian 1
Marion 1
Marrianne 1
May 1
Meggy 1
Nancy 1
Phillis 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 27
John 17
William 9
George 8
Thomas 6
Charles 5
Robert 5
Andrew 4
Walter 4
Alexander 3
Peter 3
Arthur 2
Ebenezer 2
Edwin 2
Henry 2
Adam 1
Annandale 1
Donald 1
Eber 1
Elizabeth 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Gilbert 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jas. 1
Job 1
Joseph 1
Malcome 1
Neil 1
Norman 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Richd. 1
T. 1
Thos. 1
W. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Melrose surname: questions and answers

How common was the Melrose surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,244 people were recorded with the Melrose surname. That placed it at #3,266 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Melrose surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,524 in 2016. That gives Melrose a modern rank of #4,064.

What does the Melrose surname mean?

A locational surname referring to the town of Melrose, located in the Scottish Borders region.

What does the Melrose map show?

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