NameCensus.

UK surname

Melvin

From the Gaelic "Maeleoin," a devotee of Saint John, or from the Irish "Maeleoin," meaning "bald John."

In the 1881 census there were 1,443 people recorded with the Melvin surname, ranking it #2,885 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,100, ranked #2,176, up from #2,885 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rossendale, County Durham and Lochside and Lincluden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Melvin is 3,145 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 114.8%.

1881 census count

1,443

Ranked #2,885

Modern count

3,100

2016, ranked #2,176

Peak year

2014

3,145 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Melvin had 1,443 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,885 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,100 in 2016, ranked #2,176.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,005 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Melvin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Melvin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Melvin 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 884 #3,093
1861 historical 990 #2,814
1881 historical 1,443 #2,885
1891 historical 1,690 #2,670
1901 historical 2,005 #2,657
1911 historical 1,007 #4,520
1997 modern 2,819 #2,289
1998 modern 2,953 #2,283
1999 modern 2,928 #2,314
2000 modern 2,965 #2,274
2001 modern 2,891 #2,280
2002 modern 2,957 #2,274
2003 modern 2,888 #2,277
2004 modern 2,892 #2,276
2005 modern 2,872 #2,260
2006 modern 2,880 #2,253
2007 modern 2,892 #2,268
2008 modern 2,919 #2,257
2009 modern 3,016 #2,236
2010 modern 3,109 #2,220
2011 modern 3,082 #2,209
2012 modern 3,059 #2,186
2013 modern 3,107 #2,190
2014 modern 3,145 #2,181
2015 modern 3,117 #2,174
2016 modern 3,100 #2,176

Geography

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Where Melvins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, London parishes, 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 Rossendale, County Durham, Lochside and Lincluden, Bradford and Bucksburn North. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rossendale 003 Rossendale
2 County Durham 015 County Durham
3 Lochside and Lincluden Dumfries and Galloway
4 Bradford 023 Bradford
5 Bucksburn North Aberdeen City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Melvin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Melvin

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Melvin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Melvin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Melvin 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

Melvin 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

Melvin falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Melvin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Melvin

The surname Melvin has its origins in the Brythonic Celtic language and is believed to have originated in Wales and surrounding areas during the early medieval period. The name is derived from the Welsh personal name Melfyn, which is composed of the elements "mel," meaning "honey," and "fyn," meaning "fair" or "blessed."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Melvin can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and resources in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Melfin," which was likely a variation of the original Welsh spelling.

During the Middle Ages, the name Melvin was primarily concentrated in the Welsh Marches, the border region between England and Wales. It was often associated with families who held land or had connections to the area. One notable example is Sir John Melvin, a Welsh knight who fought alongside Edward I during the conquest of Wales in the late 13th century.

As the name spread beyond Wales, it underwent various spelling variations, including Melvyn, Melvine, and Melville. These spellings reflect the influence of different regional dialects and the gradual anglicization of the name over time.

In the 16th century, the name Melvin gained prominence in Scotland, where it was adopted by several influential families. One such family was the Melvins of Dysart, whose members included Sir James Melvin (1556-1617), a renowned Scottish theologian and scholar.

Another notable figure was Andrew Melvin (1545-1622), a Scottish Presbyterian minister and reformer who played a significant role in the establishment of Presbyterianism in Scotland. He was a vocal critic of the episcopalian policies of King James VI and was briefly imprisoned for his beliefs.

In the 17th century, the Melvin surname began to appear in various parts of England, often associated with families of Welsh or Scottish descent. One prominent individual from this period was Sir Robert Melvin (1619-1683), an English courtier and politician who served as a member of Parliament and held various positions under Charles II.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Melvin name continued to spread across the British Isles and eventually to other parts of the world through emigration. One noteworthy individual was James Melvin (1790-1856), a Scottish-born Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Melvin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Melvin 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 305 Melvins recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.41x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 305 23.41x
Lanarkshire 159 3.50x
Lancashire 132 0.79x
Durham 87 2.08x
Middlesex 66 0.47x
Yorkshire 57 0.41x
Angus 52 3.99x
Renfrewshire 52 4.77x
Ayrshire 51 4.84x
Dunbartonshire 51 13.49x
Northumberland 47 2.25x
Midlothian 40 2.12x
Kincardineshire 38 22.18x
Morayshire 38 17.39x
West Lothian 25 11.80x
Warwickshire 24 0.68x
Clackmannanshire 20 17.22x
Cumberland 20 1.65x
Banffshire 19 6.51x
Stirlingshire 15 2.89x
Staffordshire 13 0.27x
Fife 12 1.44x
Wigtownshire 12 6.42x
Norfolk 11 0.51x
Perthshire 10 1.58x
Lincolnshire 9 0.40x
Sussex 9 0.38x
Essex 6 0.22x
Surrey 6 0.09x
Worcestershire 6 0.33x
Berwickshire 5 2.94x
Dorset 5 0.54x
Glamorgan 5 0.20x
Kent 5 0.10x
Leicestershire 5 0.32x
Hampshire 4 0.14x
Cheshire 2 0.06x
Derbyshire 2 0.09x
Devon 2 0.07x
Dumfriesshire 2 0.64x
Gloucestershire 2 0.07x
Oxfordshire 2 0.23x
Roxburghshire 2 0.79x
Sutherland 2 1.85x
Argyllshire 1 0.26x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.12x
East Lothian 1 0.54x
Isle of Man 1 0.38x
Royal Navy 1 0.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen St Nicholas in Aberdeenshire leads with 63 Melvins recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.85x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen St Nicholas 63 25.85x
Aberdeen Old Machar 61 22.43x
Govan 52 4.62x
Barony 26 2.26x
Dundee 24 4.93x
Ellon 24 133.93x
Liverpool 23 2.27x
Old Kilpatrick 23 51.49x
West Greenock 23 11.75x
Kemnay 22 278.48x
Elgin 21 49.39x
Alloa 20 35.50x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 19 2.51x
Peterculter 19 206.75x
Dumbarton 16 30.41x
Glasgow 16 1.98x
Fraserburgh 15 40.91x
Burnley 14 9.96x
Maryhill 14 15.72x
Dalserf 13 28.63x
Gateshead 13 4.15x
Birmingham 12 1.02x
Great Bolton 12 5.43x
Manchester 12 1.60x
New Cumnock 12 65.75x
Whitburn 12 39.22x
Fetteresso 11 40.98x
Wootton Wawen 11 98.39x
Benholm 10 135.87x
Halifax 10 4.89x
Holy Trinity 10 2.98x
Turriff 10 47.55x
Brandon Byshottles 9 17.17x
Leeds 9 1.14x
Mile End Old Town 9 4.05x
Monymusk 9 161.29x
Stonehouse 9 58.33x
Toxteth Park 9 1.59x
Urpeth 9 110.43x
Urquhart 9 87.12x
Wardleworth 9 9.44x
Banff 8 31.57x
Bothwell 8 6.48x
Chiswick 8 10.41x
Culsalmond 8 199.50x
Fenwick 8 143.63x
Keithhall 8 187.79x
Kilwinning 8 23.54x
Montrose 8 10.13x
Neilston 8 14.62x
Oving 8 99.88x
Stranton 8 5.68x
Tarland 8 141.59x
Bathgate 7 15.22x
Bishopwearmouth 7 1.95x
Bonhill 7 11.54x
Campsie 7 24.59x
Caputh 7 70.49x
Cathcart 7 11.87x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 2.64x
Dalziel 7 14.30x
Dyce 7 124.78x
Edinburgh St Georges 7 17.90x
Islington London 7 0.51x
Kinneff Catterline 7 145.23x
Morwick 7 1590.91x
North Meols 7 4.28x
Udny 7 88.61x
Walsall Borough 7 18.99x
Whithorn 7 49.19x
Birtley 6 35.13x
Bradford 6 1.78x
Cockermouth 6 23.53x
Cruden 6 35.76x
Gamrie 6 18.42x
Kilmarnock 6 4.79x
Kirkcaldy 6 14.53x
Prudhoe Castle 6 147.42x
South Leith 6 2.83x
St Pancras London 6 0.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 51
Elizabeth 25
Margaret 20
Jane 15
Sarah 13
Ann 11
Ellen 10
Catherine 9
Bridget 8
Kate 7
Isabella 6
Annie 5
Eliza 5
Emma 5
Fanny 4
Hannah 4
Alice 3
Dorothy 3
Emily 3
Jessie 3
Julia 3
Margret 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Clara 2
Esther 2
Harriet 2
Janet 2
Lizzie 2
Martha 2
Maud 2
Phillis 2
Priscilla 2
Susan 2
Adele 1
Amy 1
Betty 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Drothy 1
Eleanor 1
Elisabeth 1
Emiley 1
Honora 1
Jemima 1
Katherine 1
Katie 1
Laura 1
Winefred 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Melvin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Melvin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,443 people were recorded with the Melvin surname. That placed it at #2,885 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Melvin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,100 in 2016. That gives Melvin a modern rank of #2,176.

What does the Melvin surname mean?

From the Gaelic "Maeleoin," a devotee of Saint John, or from the Irish "Maeleoin," meaning "bald John."

What does the Melvin map show?

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