Surname Mellanby - Meaning and Origin
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Mellanby: What does the surname Mellanby mean?
The last name Mellanby is of English origin, derived from the Olde English word "melne" which means "mill". It likely referred to a person who either lived by or worked at a mill. Over time this surname was adopted as a family name and can be found mainly in the counties of Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland.
Mellanby is a rare last name, and the current population of those with the surname is estimated to be around 580 people. Records of those with the Mellanby family name can be found as far back as the 15th century in the records of Nottinghamshire, England.
The Mellanby surname is not restricted to Britain, as there are also records of Mellanby's in Ireland, Germany and the United States of America. Migration to America for this family likely began during the 18th and 19th centuries, as a result of religious or political persecution in Europe.
Today, the name Mellanby can be found in many different countries throughout the world. Some of the locations that people with this name currently reside are England, United States, Australia, Canada, Scotland, Ireland, Sweden, Norway and Spain. While the name may be spread across the world, the common connection remains that the Mellanby family are all connected to an original mill worker or one of his descendants.
Order DNA origin analysisMellanby: Where does the name Mellanby come from?
The last name Mellanby is most common today in the United Kingdom and Australia. It is also found in Canada and the United States, although it is much less common in those countries.
In the United Kingdom, the Mellanby name is spread throughout England, predominantly in the North West and Yorkshire region. The surname is also found in Scotland and Wales, but at a much lower frequency. It is also very common in Australia, particularly in Victoria and New South Wales.
The origin of the Mellanby surname is uncertain; however, some experts believe that it is derived from 'Millenby’, which was an Old Norse name meaning ‘dweller on or near a mill’. Other theories suggest that the name may have developed from the Old English 'meolian', meaning 'to grind', or from middle English 'Malimbi', meaning 'sickly'.
The original bearer of the Mellanby name was a landholder, likely owning an area of land on or near a mill. The surname then spread throughout the United Kingdom, peppering different parts of England, Scotland, and Wales. It then spread throughout the world, particularly Australia and Canada, due to the waves of migrations during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Today, the Mellanby name is mostly confined to the United Kingdom and Australia, where it is quite common.
Variations of the surname Mellanby
The surname Mellanby is derived from a small hamlet in Yorkshire, England and can be found with many surnames of the same origin. Variations include Mellinby, Mellenby, Melenby, Mellonby, Mellabys and Mellanbees.
Originally derived from a Middle English term meaning swallow hill or meadow of the swallow, settlements in Yorkshire have been documented since at least the 12th century.
The spelling of the surname has been known to altered over time, although the pronunciation has remained consistent. Examples of different spellings include Melanby, Melinby, Melenby and Mellonby, as well as Mellobys and Mellonbees.
Other names derived from the same origin include Mellody, Mellander, Mellands and Mellor. The surnames are all derived from the small hamlet of Mellanby, giving rise to the same family of surnames.
Some variation in the spelling of the surname is also possible depending upon the individual family's interpretation and the language in which the name was recorded. Similarly, the last name can be altered as it is passed down to subsequent generations.
In some instances, spelling variants such as Milneby, Mellombys and Milkombys may also be found. It is worth noting, however, that these variants are not generally linked to the same family of surnames.
Famous people with the name Mellanby
- Ray Mellanby: Former professional ice hockey player for the Philadelphia Flyers and Florida Panthers.
- Craig Mellanby: Retired professional ice hockey player, and currently a television analyst for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Hockey Night in Canada.
- Bill Mellanby: Retired professional ice hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks.
- Alan Mellanby: British botanist who established the first scientific assessment of the world's forests.
- Emma Mellanby: British composer and performer.
- Edouard Mellanby: French Impressionist painter, known primarily for his landscapes.
- Ken Mellanby: Retired ice hockey player who mainly played in the World Hockey Association (WHA).
- Marcus Mellanby: British photographer and contemporary art curator.
- Tom Mellanby: British film and theatre actor.
- Gary Mellanby: Former Executive Director of the Canadian Football League Players’ Association.