Contents [hide]

Melvin History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Melvin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The land of moorland bogs and fields of heather is the ancient homeland to the distinguished surname Melvin. In Scotland, hereditary surnames were adopted according to fairly general rules and during the late Middle Ages, names that were derived from specific localities became increasingly widespread. Local names originally denoted the proprietorship of the village or estate. The Melvin family originally lived in the village of Melville, in the county of Midlothian (now part of the region of Lothian).

Early Origins of the Melvin family

The surname Melvin was first found in Midlothian. The Melville family resided in this county as early as the mid-12th century, when King Malcolm IV of Scotland granted them the lands of Melville in 1160.

They are said to have arrived in Scotland from Malleville in Pays de Caux, Normandy, where they held the distinguished title of the Lords of Graville.

Another source is more specific: "The great Northern House of Melville claims this Norman as the patriarch of their race. Galfrid de Maleville, the earliest of the family who appears in Scottish history, had the honour of being the first Justiciary (Judiciary) of Scotland on record. From him derived the Earls of Melville. " 1

The parish of Lasswade in the county of Edinburgh was and ancient home of the family. "The principal seat is Melville Castle, the residence of Lord Viscount Melville, an elegant and spacious structure in the castellated style, with circular towers, erected about the close of the last century, on the site of an ancient house said to have belonged to David Rizzio, secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots." 2

Early History of the Melvin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Melvin research. Another 176 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1535, 1545, 1547, 1597, 1617, 1621, 1622, 1636, 1683, 1695, 1707, 1741, 1742, 1753, 1754, 1890 and 1924 are included under the topic Early Melvin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Melvin Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Melville, Melwell, Melwill, Malwyn, Melwyn, Melvile and many more.

Early Notables of the Melvin family

Notable among the family at this time was Sir James Melville (1535-1617), Scottish diplomatist and memoir writer, was the third son of Sir John Melville, laird of Raith in the county of Fife; Andrew Melville (1545-1622), Scottish scholar, theologian and religious reformer; Alexander Melville (also Alexander Leslie), 5th Earl of Leven (1695-1754), Scottish peer, Lord High Commissioner (1741-1753), Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland (1741-1742)...
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Melvin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Melvin Ranking

In the United States, the name Melvin is the 1,472^nd most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Melvin family to Ireland

Some of the Melvin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Melvin migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Melvin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Elizabeth Melvin, who landed in Maryland in 1663 4
Richard Melvin, who landed in Maryland in 1663 4

Melvin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

James Melvin, who arrived in Virginia in 1717 4
Patrick and Mary Melvin, who settled in New Hampshire in 1735

Melvin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Andrew Melvin, who arrived in Boston in 1804
Andrew Melvin, aged 25, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1804 4
Philip Melvin, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1837 4
Mary Melvin, aged 18, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850 4
S R Melvin, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Melvin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Melvin Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Melvin, who settled in Quebec in 1766
Mr. Eleazer Melvin U.E. who settled in Chester, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia c. 1784 son of Lieut. Robert Melvin 5
Lieut. Robert Melvin U.E. who settled in Chester, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia c. 1784 5
Mr. Robert Melvin U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 5

Melvin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Ellen, Jane, Mary, Nancy, William, and James Melvin, who, who landed in New Brunswick in 1834
James Melvin, aged 37, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the schooner "Sarah" from Belfast, Ireland
Mary Melvin, aged 40, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the schooner "Sarah" from Belfast, Ireland
William Melvin, aged 13, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the schooner "Sarah" from Belfast, Ireland
Ellen Melvin, aged 11, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the schooner "Sarah" from Belfast, Ireland
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Melvin migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Melvin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Melvin, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Earl St Vincent" on 6th April 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6

Melvin migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Melvin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. John Melvin, Scottish settler travelling from Clyde aboard the ship "Sir William Eyre" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand in April 1863 7
Miss Margaret Melvin, Scottish settler travelling from Clyde aboard the ship "Sir William Eyre" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand in April 1863 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Melvin (post 1700) +

Leland D. Melvin (b. 1964), American engineer and NASA Astronaut who served on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis as a mission specialist on STS-122, and as mission specialist 1 on STS-129, logging more than 565 cumulative hours in space. 8
Jerry G. Melvin (1929-2020), American politician, Member of the Florida House of Representatives (1968-1971)
Robert Paul "Bob" Melvin (b. 1961), American manager of the Oakland Athletics
John T. Melvin (1887-1917), American officer in the United States Navy, eponym of the USS Melvin (DD-335), a Clemson-class destroyer and the USS Melvin (DD-680), a Fletcher-class destroyer
Robert Paul Melvin (b. 1961), former American Major League Baseball catcher and manager
Allan Melvin (1923-2008), American character actor, known for his roles as Corporal Henshaw on The Phil Silvers Show and Archie Bunker's friend Barney Hefner on All in the Family
Chasity Melvin (b. 1976), American professional basketball player
Eric Melvin (b. 1966), American guitarist
Murray Melvin (1932-2023), English actor from St. Pancras, London, best known for The Phantom of the Opera (2004), A Taste of Honey (1961) and Barry Lyndon (1975)
Douglas Robert Melvin (b. 1952), Canadian front office executive in Major League Baseball, General Manager of the Milwaukee Brewers of the National League
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Melvin family +

Halifax Explosion

Mrs. Ethel May Melvin (1881-1917), Canadian resident from Protestant Orphanage, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 9
Miss Dorothy Melvin (1917-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 9

USS Arizona

Mr. Earle T. Melvin, American Chief Fire Control man working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 10

The Melvin 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: Denique coelum
Motto Translation: I shall enjoy heaven at last.

Citations +

Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-st-vincent
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
NASA Astronauts Homepage. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Leland Melvin. Retrieved from http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/melvin.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html