Show ContentsMelon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Irish surnames are all based on the Gaelic language native to Ireland. The original Gaelic form of the name Melon is Ó Meallain, which is derived from the word meall, which means pleasant.

Early Origins of the Melon family

The surname Melon was first found in County Tyrone (Irish:Tír Eoghain), the ancient territory of the O'Neills, now in the Province of Ulster, central Northern Ireland, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Melon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Melon research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Melon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Melon Spelling Variations

Just like the English language, the Gaelic language of Ireland was not standardized in the Middle Ages. Therefore, one's name was often recorded under several different spellings during the life of its bearer. Spelling variations revealed in the search for the origins of the Melon family name include Mallon, O'Mallon, O'Malin, O'Mellan, Malin, Mellan and many more.

Early Notables of the Melon family

More information is included under the topic Early Melon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Melon Ranking

In France, the name Melon is the 6,358th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 1


United States Melon migration to the United States +

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name Melon to North America:

Melon Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Samuel Melon, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1798

Contemporary Notables of the name Melon (post 1700) +

  • Helen Melon, English singer and with her sister Shelly Melon founded The Melons, an indie pop band formed in Nottingham, England in 1993


  1. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/


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