NameCensus.

UK surname

Melson

Derived from the Old English given name Mael or the Irish Gaelic Maolmhaodhóg, meaning "devotee of Saint Mael."

In the 1881 census there were 165 people recorded with the Melson surname, ranking it #14,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 147, ranked #24,071, down from #14,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lincoln St Botolph, London parishes and Boston (incl. Boston allotments). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Lindsey, Aylesbury Vale and Boston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Melson is 355 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 10.9%.

1881 census count

165

Ranked #14,559

Modern count

147

2016, ranked #24,071

Peak year

1891

355 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Melson had 165 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016, ranked #24,071.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 355 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Melson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Melson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Melson 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 209 #10,066
1861 historical 322 #7,911
1881 historical 165 #14,559
1891 historical 355 #9,721
1901 historical 152 #17,916
1911 historical 245 #13,084
1997 modern 171 #19,438
1998 modern 167 #20,258
1999 modern 172 #20,009
2000 modern 158 #21,055
2001 modern 159 #20,710
2002 modern 159 #21,086
2003 modern 153 #21,406
2004 modern 149 #21,905
2005 modern 143 #22,473
2006 modern 143 #22,619
2007 modern 142 #23,025
2008 modern 139 #23,635
2009 modern 144 #23,577
2010 modern 143 #24,247
2011 modern 153 #22,996
2012 modern 145 #23,780
2013 modern 144 #24,323
2014 modern 144 #24,504
2015 modern 153 #23,413
2016 modern 147 #24,071

Geography

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Where Melsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lincoln St Botolph, London parishes, Boston (incl. Boston allotments), Portsmouth, Portsea and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Lindsey, Aylesbury Vale and Boston. 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 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Boston (incl. Boston allotments) Lincolnshire
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Lindsey 008 East Lindsey
2 Aylesbury Vale 023 Aylesbury Vale
3 East Lindsey 009 East Lindsey
4 Boston 009 Boston
5 Boston 003 Boston

Forenames

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First names often paired with Melson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Melson

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Melson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Melson 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Melson is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Melson is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Melson 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 Melson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Melson

The surname Melson has its origins in England, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be a variant of the name Mellows or Mellers, which were derived from the Old English word "melu," meaning "meal" or "flour." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a miller or someone involved in the flour trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Melson can be found in the parish records of Northamptonshire, where a Thomas Melson was mentioned in 1597. Further instances of the name appear in various records throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, with spellings such as Melson, Mellson, and Melston.

The name Melson is also closely associated with the village of Melsonby in North Yorkshire, which was originally recorded as "Melesburne" in the Domesday Book of 1086. It is possible that some individuals with the surname Melson may have derived their name from this location.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Melson throughout history include:

1. Sir John Melson (1601-1673), an English lawyer and judge who served as Chief Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of Charles II. 2. Thomas Melson (1762-1832), a British naval officer who participated in the Battle of Trafalgar and later served as Governor of the Bahamas. 3. Elizabeth Melson (1811-1892), an American philanthropist and abolitionist who worked alongside Frederick Douglass in the anti-slavery movement. 4. James Melson (1846-1914), a Scottish architect known for designing several prominent buildings in Glasgow, including the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. 5. William Melson (1870-1943), an American geologist and volcanologist who made significant contributions to the study of volcanic rocks and their formation.

The surname Melson has a rich history spanning several centuries and can be traced back to various regions of England, with possible connections to place names and occupational origins. While its prevalence may have fluctuated over time, the name has been carried by individuals who have made their mark in various fields, from law and military service to philanthropy and science.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Melson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Melson 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. Middlesex leads with 38 Melsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.36x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 38 2.36x
Yorkshire 29 1.82x
Lincolnshire 24 9.33x
Lancashire 14 0.73x
Surrey 11 1.40x
Warwickshire 9 2.22x
Hertfordshire 7 6.31x
Staffordshire 7 1.29x
Essex 6 1.89x
Glamorgan 5 1.78x
Northamptonshire 4 2.64x
Hampshire 3 0.91x
Gloucestershire 2 0.63x
Ayrshire 1 0.83x
Kent 1 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.46x
Royal Navy 1 5.21x
Sussex 1 0.37x
Wiltshire 1 0.70x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eston in Yorkshire leads with 13 Melsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 374.64x.

Place Total Index
Eston 13 374.64x
Bethnal Green London 9 12.87x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 7 47.11x
Bermondsey 7 14.61x
Paddington London 7 11.83x
St Marylebone London 7 8.15x
Rowley Regis 6 39.63x
Aston 5 4.47x
Boston 5 64.02x
Brothertoft 5 3571.43x
St Pancras London 5 3.86x
Toynton All Sts 5 2631.58x
West Derby 5 8.95x
Wheathampstead 5 390.63x
Birmingham 4 2.96x
Kingston On Thames 4 21.23x
Llandaff 4 42.92x
Crumpsall 3 66.67x
Heston 3 56.18x
Portsea 3 4.64x
Salford 3 5.34x
Alford 2 125.79x
Castle Ashby 2 1666.67x
Crayke 2 714.29x
Leake 2 169.49x
St Albans St Peter 2 53.48x
St George Hanover 2 9.52x
Stamford Baron St Martin 2 246.91x
West Ham 2 2.85x
Yeadon 2 55.56x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 1 17.27x
Brighton 1 1.83x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 9.51x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 3.36x
Broughton In Salford 1 5.73x
Broughton In Stokesley 1 322.58x
Colchester St Giles 1 31.85x
East Ham 1 16.95x
Edmonton 1 7.71x
Eglwysilan 1 20.58x
Helperby 1 285.71x
Highworth 1 54.95x
Holy Trinity 1 2.61x
Kilwinning 1 25.71x
Kirton 1 97.09x
Lancaster 1 8.80x
Margate St John Baptist 1 9.95x
Radford 1 9.07x
Rochford 1 108.70x
Royal Navy 1 6.10x
Sculcoates 1 3.96x
Sibsey 1 172.41x
Spalding 1 19.57x
St Giles In Fields 1 18.02x
St Martin In Fields 1 10.37x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 1 27.62x
Tamworth 1 34.48x
Toxteth Park 1 1.55x
Westminster St John 1 5.10x
Whitechapel London 1 6.31x
Wigtoft 1 270.27x
Woodford St Mary 1 277.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Elizabeth 10
Sarah 7
Alice 4
Louisa 3
Ann 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Maria 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Annie 1
Catharine 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Flourance 1
Francis 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Helena 1
Horatio 1
Katherine 1
Lavinia 1
Lizzie 1
Lydia 1
Margrett 1
Matilda 1
May 1
Meila 1
Millicent 1
Rebecca 1
Ruth 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 8
John 7
Thomas 7
George 6
Joseph 5
Charles 4
Frederick 4
James 4
Alfred 3
David 3
Henry 3
Robert 3
Arthur 2
Ashton 1
C.Horatio 1
Chas. 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Jas. 1
Joshua 1
R.H. 1
Reginale 1
Sydney 1
Thos.S. 1
Tom. 1

FAQ

Melson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Melson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 165 people were recorded with the Melson surname. That placed it at #14,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Melson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016. That gives Melson a modern rank of #24,071.

What does the Melson surname mean?

Derived from the Old English given name Mael or the Irish Gaelic Maolmhaodhóg, meaning "devotee of Saint Mael."

What does the Melson map show?

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