Melville Surname

The Origins of the Melville Surname

The surname Melville has a rich history and is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is believed to have originated from a place name, Melville, in Normandy, France. The name is derived from the Old French words 'mal' meaning 'bad' or 'ill' and 'ville' meaning 'town' or 'village'. This suggests that the original meaning of the name may have been 'bad town' or 'ill village'.

Early Records and Variations

The surname Melville first appeared in historical records in the 12th century in Scotland, where the Melville family held estates in Midlothian. Over the centuries, the surname has been found in various spellings and variations, including Melvill, Melaville, Melvine, Mellville, Melvin, and Maelville.

Records show that the Melville surname spread to other parts of the United Kingdom, including England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It also made its way to other English-speaking countries such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Notable Individuals with the Surname Melville

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Melville. One of the most famous is Andrew Melville, a Scottish scholar, theologian, and religious reformer who played a key role in the Protestant Reformation in Scotland.

Another prominent figure with the Melville surname is Herman Melville, the American author best known for his epic novel "Moby-Dick". His work has had a lasting impact on literature and continues to be studied and revered by scholars and readers around the world.

Distribution of the Melville Surname

The Melville surname is most commonly found in the United States, with a total incidence of 6016. It is also prevalent in the United Kingdom, particularly in England (3201) and Scotland (2341). In Australia, there are 3176 individuals with the surname Melville, while in South Africa, the incidence is 1648.

Other countries where the Melville surname is found include Canada (1188), Guyana (1038), Trinidad and Tobago (1017), and New Zealand (864). In Brazil, there are 405 individuals with the surname Melville, and in Ecuador, the incidence is 305.

While the Melville surname is less common in some countries, such as Sweden (8), Finland (7), and Greece (4), it is still represented in various parts of the world, highlighting the global reach of this ancient and enduring name.

Famous Melville Families and Lineages

Over the centuries, several Melville families have emerged with distinguished lineages and histories. One such family is the Melvilles of Melville Castle in Scotland, who have played a significant role in the country's political and social life. The title of Lord Melville was created for Henry Dundas, a member of this prominent family, who served as a leading statesman in the late 18th century.

In the United States, the Melville family has also made a mark, with descendants of Herman Melville continuing his literary legacy and contributing to American culture and society. The family name has been carried on through generations, preserving the rich heritage and tradition associated with the Melville surname.

Conclusion

The Melville surname has a fascinating history that spans centuries and continents. From its origins in Normandy, France, to its spread throughout the United Kingdom and beyond, the name has endured and flourished. Through notable individuals and prominent families, the Melville surname has left an indelible mark on history and continues to be a source of pride and identity for those who bear it.

The surname Melville in the globe

Globalization has meant that surnames distribute far beyond their country of origin, so that it can be done to locate African surnames in Europe or Indian surnames in Oceania. Similar takes place in the case of Melville, which as you are able to corroborate, it can be said that it is a surname which can be found in the majority of the countries of the globe. In the same way there are nations in which certainly the thickness of men and women because of the surname Melville is higher than in other countries.

The map of the Melville surname

View Melville surname map

The chance of examining on a globe map about which nations hold a greater number of Melville in the world, helps us a lot. By putting ourselves on the map, for a tangible country, we can understand tangible number of people with all the surname Melville, to obtain in this manner the precise information of all the Melville that you could presently find in that country. All this also assists us to understand not merely in which the surname Melville arises from, but also in excatly what way the folks who are initially an element of the family that bears the surname Melville have moved and moved. Just as, you are able to see by which places they have settled and developed, and that's why if Melville is our surname, it appears interesting to which other countries associated with world it is possible this 1 of our ancestors once relocated to.

Countries with more Melville in the world

If you think of it very carefully, at apellidos.de we present everything required to enable you to have the real information of which nations have actually the best number of people utilizing the surname Melville in the whole globe. More over, you can view them in a very graphic method on our map, in which the nations using the greatest amount of people with the surname Melville is seen painted in a more powerful tone. In this way, and with an individual glance, it is possible to locate in which nations Melville is a very common surname, as well as in which countries Melville is an unusual or non-existent surname.

Not all surnames similar to the surname Melville are related to it. Sometimes it is possible to find surnames similar to Melville that have a different origin and meaning.

Discerning whether the surname Melville or any of the surnames similar to Melville came first is not always easy. There are many reasons that could have led to the surname Melville being written or pronounced differently, giving rise to a new, different surname Melville with a common root.

Melville Surname

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