Show ContentsMeloy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Meloy family

The surname Meloy was first found in Ile-de-France, at Mellun, a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department. One of the first records of the name was Robert of Melun (c. 1100-1167), an English-born, scholastic Christian theologian who taught in Mellun, France. Little is known of him other than he studied under Peter Abelard and Hugh of St. Victor at the University of Paris and by 1137, he was a teacher in the school on Mont Ste-Genevieve. He was later involved in the Council of Reims in 1148. After teaching in Paris for 40 years, he was recalled to England by King Henry II in 1160, and was appointed Bishop of Hereford in 1163.

"Savaric de Malleon was Constable of Porchester Castle in 1216, and Seneschal of Poitou and Gascony in 1222. He held Petersfield and MapleDurham (part of the Honour of Gloucester) by grant of King John. It was this Savaric who in 1216 was left by the King in charge of the city and castle of Winchester, just after Pentecost, the holy time chosen by the Bishop of Winchester, who wits with the King, for excommunicating Lewis and all his favourers. Upon the departure of the King, Savaric set fire to the suburbs of Winchester. Then followed the siege of the castle, which at last by the counsel of Savaric was given up to Lewis upon which followed the surrender of all the Hampshire castles. In 1229, after the death of Waleran Teutonicus, he became Warden of the Isle of Wight. was, says Worsley, " a Poictevin, and had been very serviceable to the King during the war with France ; but afterwards, on some discontent, changing sides, became extremely troublesome." 1

Early History of the Meloy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Meloy research. Another 185 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1302, 1465, 1598, 1634, 1688 and 1721 are included under the topic Early Meloy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meloy Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Melun, Mellun, Mellon, Melon, Meluns, Melluns, Melune, Melunes, Mellune and many more.

Early Notables of the Meloy family

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


United States Meloy migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Meloy Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • James Meloy, who arrived in Maryland in 1678 2
Meloy Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Meloy, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1773 2
Meloy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Robert Meloy, aged 49, who landed in New York, NY in 1812 2
  • John Meloy, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1816 2
  • Thomas Meloy, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1855 2
  • Charles Meloy, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1856 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Meloy (post 1700) +

  • General Guy Stanley Meloy Jr. (1903-1968), U.S. Army general, World War II and Korean War veteran, Commander of all U.S. forces in Korea during the Cold War
  • Francis Edward Meloy Jr. (1917-1976), U.S. diplomat murdered in Beirut, Lebanon in 1976 by Lebanese leftist militants
  • Ellen Meloy (1946-2004), American nature writer from Pasadena, California
  • Maile Meloy (b. 1972), American novelist and short story writer from Helena, Montana
  • Colin Patrick Henry Meloy (b. 1974), American musician, singer-songwriter and author best known as the frontman of the indie folk rock band the Decemberists
  • Brigadier-General Vincent J. Meloy (1895-1960), American Commanding General Truax Field, Wisconsin (1944-1946) 3
  • Paul Meloy, English writer from Surrey


The Meloy Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Virtus et honor
Motto Translation: Virtue and honor.


  1. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2013, May 9) Vincent Meloy. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Meloy/Vincent_J./USA.html


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