Surname Melson - Meaning and Origin
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Melson: What does the surname Melson mean?
The last name Melson is an anglicized name that originated in Northern Europe. It is believed to be derived from the Old Norse personal name Mælls-son, which means “son of Mælls” or “son of Mēlli”, with Mælls or Mēlli meaning “blade, kind, or generous one”. As the name suggests, it was traditionally a surname given to a son who was believed to embody these traits.
The Melson surname first appeared in England in the 12th century, and the name is most commonly found in the North and West Midlands region of England. It is believed that the Melson family originally hailed from the city of Newcastle, which sits on the border of Northumbria and Cumbria.
Today, the Melson surname can be found around the world, from England and Scotland to the United States and Canada. The name is still associated with a spirit of generosity, as the original meaning of the name implies. The Melson surname is a reminder that it is important to be kind and generous in all aspects of life.
Order DNA origin analysisMelson: Where does the name Melson come from?
The last name Melson is most commonly found in the United States. It originated in England in the 1600s as a variant of the German surname Meltzer. It first appeared in Pennsylvania in the 1700s, and quickly spread throughout the east coast. The Melson name continues to be found primarily in the east, although members of this lineage can be found all around the country.
In recent decades, the Melson surname has seen a resurgence of popularity in both the United States and England. It is likely that the global popularity of the television series The Walking Dead, which features characters with the last name Melson, has had an influence on this trend.
Today, the Melson family is a diverse group with members from various backgrounds and lifestyles scattered across the United States. Despite the wide geographic spread, many members are still strongly connected to their roots and often trace their family histories back to their common ancestor, the original settler John Melson. Through shared values, traditions, and experiences, the Melson family continues to be a close-knit and proud group.
Variations of the surname Melson
Melson is a name originating from England, Germany, Scandinavia and Scotland. The variants of the surname Melson include Melsonne, Melsonne, Melssen, Melsenn, Melsin, Melsom, and Melsson.
In England, Melson is likely to be an occupational surname derived from the Middle English word “meltone” meaning millstone. Early references to this occupation may be found in the 12th Century Rolls of the Norman Conquerors in which various individuals received grants of land for turning the wheels of early watermills.
In Germany, the name Melson is likely to have originated from the area of southern Germany near the old town of Schwäbisch Hall. It is likely that the original spelling of the name was Melssen, which was then shortened to Melson.
The Scandinavian variants of the name include Melsonne and Melssen. The name appears to have been popular in both Sweden and Finland, and is likely to have originated from the Swedish words “mell” meaning “table” and “son” meaning “son of”.
In Scotland, the surname Melson is likely to be derived from the Gaelic words “mac mhaolain” meaning “son of the inhabitant of the mill”. As mills were once common in the area, it is likely that the name was used to identify individuals who worked at them.
Overall, the surname Melson has a variety of variants and spellings, and is likely to have originated from a variety of different countries and cultures. Variants include Melsonne, Melssen, Melsenn, Melsin, Melsom, Melsson, and Mac Mhaolain.
Famous people with the name Melson
- Bill Melson: an American lawyer and politician who served as the Lieutenant Governor of Delaware from 2009 to 2017.
- Thomas Melson: a former American football defensive back who was drafted by the New York Giants in the 1996 NFL Draft and played for the team until 2002.
- Deron Melson: an American basketball player who played college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks in the early 2000s.
- Rob Melson: a former Major League Baseball player who played three seasons for the Oakland Athletics from 2001 to 2003.
- Mel Melson: a former professional swimmer and the 1987 Pan American Games gold medalist in the 200 meter butterfly.
- Beth Melson: an American actress best known for her roles in the television series “Dark Angel” and the feature film “The Craft”.
- Ayanna Melson: an American R&B and soul singer and songwriter who was a member of the girl group Destiny’s Child.
- Frank Melson: a former American football safety who was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1999 and played four seasons in the NFL.
- Lawrence Melson: a former professional wrestler who competed in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) during the 1980s and 1990s.
- Kirk Melson: a former rugby league footballer who represented Australia in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup and was named in the NRL Team of the Century.