MELVILLE
Melville is a surname of Scottish origin that originated from the Norman placename Malleville or Malleus villa, translating literally as "bad town" or "evil town" in Old French. The name arrived in Scotland in the mid‑eleventh century when Norman settlers brought it over from the Normandy region. In its original context the term referred to the poor quality of soil in the settlement of Malleville in the Pays de Caux; therefore the literal translation does not imply any negative character upon those who adopted the surname.
The earliest record of the family name appears in the early twelfth century. A notice dated between 1161 and 1163 records Galfridus de Malveill in the Charters of the Holy Cross in Edinburgh; this is the first surviving spelling of the name in Scotland. In the early fourteenth century a charter from 1202 witnesses Hugh de Malleville, and in 1296 Sir Richard de Melville was sworn to allegiance to King Edward I of England.
Although the literal meaning of the place name is "bad town", the name should not be conflated with the character of the bearers. The name was borne by the owners of lands in Midlothian and in Fife, where the family held a seat from very ancient times. An alternative Gaelic derivation has been proposed, in which Maoil Mhin—meaning "devotee of St Min, gentle"—may yield a similar name in a form anglicised as Melvin, Mulveen or Mulvin. Neither derivation casts aspersions on the social standing or virtue of the families that carried it.
In contemporary use the surname is found chiefly in the United Kingdom, especially in Scotland, and in several other countries. In the United States it ranks approximately one‑thousand and one‑hundred and seventy‑fifth in popularity. The highest concentrations in North America are in the northeastern states of Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts, with a secondary presence in the Midwest, particularly Nebraska, Iowa and Michigan. Outside of North America Melvilles are present in Canada—mainly Ontario and Quebec—Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Multiple spelling variants have arisen over the centuries, including Melvile, Mulville, MacMulvie, Mulvihill, Meville, Millville, McMill, Meleve, Melvine, Melves, Melviss, Milville, Milve, Mullvihill, Melvill, Mellville, Milvil, Millvil, Melvil, Mallville, Mevill, Millvile and Millfil. Surnames of the same Gaelic root frequently appear under alternative forms such as Masson, Mais, Mass, Maes, Mails, Maiz, Mas, Mays, Mayes, Maise, Mace, Masse, Mess, Maze, Medd, Messer, Mestre, Messman, Mastor and Mauger, reflecting a common linguistic ancestry.
The Melville surname continues to be carried by a wide spectrum of individuals across the former British Empire and the United States, spanning diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Its historical roots in medieval Scotland and in the Norman migration to the British Isles remain a defining feature of the name’s heritage. The Melville Society International provides a point of contact for those wishing to research the genealogy and historical records associated with this surname.
Typical given names associated with the Melville surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Robert
- William
Female
- Alison
- Anne
- Caroline
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Fiona
- Helen
- Jennifer
- Josephine
- Margaret
- Mary
- Michelle
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Melville in...
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Melville are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Shortbread.
There are approximately 5,670 people named Melville in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,666th most common surname in Britain. Around 87 in a million people in Britain are named Melville.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Melville
- Herman Melville - American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet (1819 to 1891)
- Andy Melville - Welsh football player
- Nigel Melville - Rugby union player
- Heather Melville -
- Alan Melville - Broadcaster, writer, playwright and wit (1910 to 1983)
- James Melville - Politician (1885 to 1931)
- Robert Melville - Art critic (1905 to 1986)
- Andrew Melville - Scottish scholar, theologian and religious reformer (1545 to 1622)
- John Melville - Artist (1902 to 1986)
- John Whyte-Melville-Skeffington, 13th Viscount Massereene - Royal Navy officer (1914 to 1992)
- George Whyte-Melville - Scottish writer (1821 to 1878)
- Arthur Melville - Artist (1855 to 1904)
- Johnny Melville - Scottish actor
- Harry Melville - Chemist, academic, and academic administrator (1908 to 2000)
- Fred Melville - Philatelist (1882 to 1940)
- James Melville - Cricketer (1909 to 1961)
- James Melville - Cricketer, born 1936 (1936 to 2016)
- Paul Melville - Cricketer (1956 to 1978)
- David Melville - Clergyman (1813 to 1904)
- Frances Melville - Scottish suffragist (1873 to 1962)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.