Melforthey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancestors of the Melforthey surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in one of the various settlements called Milford in Derbyshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire, and the West Riding of Yorkshire, or in the place called Long Melford in the county of Suffolk. The surname Melforthey belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Melforthey family

The surname Melforthey was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, as Lords of the manor of Milford, in the diocese of York. This did not appear in the Domesday Book in 1080, and it must be assumed that the manor emerged about the 12th or 13th century.

Early History of the Melforthey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Melforthey research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1292, 1379, 1618, 1644, 1704 and 1725 are included under the topic Early Melforthey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Melforthey Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Melforthey include Milforde, Milford, Millford, Millforde, Melford and many more.

Early Notables of the Melforthey family

Distinguished members of the family include Samuel "Fish Hook" Mulford (1644–1725), an American who went to London in 1704 to protest the tax on whale oil, which he used in farming. Warned beforehand of the sly workings of pickpockets in...
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Melforthey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Melforthey family to Ireland

Some of the Melforthey family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Melforthey family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: David Milford who settled in Annapolis Maryland in 1729; Sarah Milford settled in Virginia in 1653; Samuel and Elizabeth Milford settled in New York State in 1820.