Show ContentsMellent 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 Mellent is Ó Meallain, which is derived from the word meall, which means pleasant.

Early Origins of the Mellent family

The surname Mellent 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 Mellent family

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

Mellent Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname Mellent were found. These included One reason for the many variations is that scribes and church officials often spelled an individual's name as it sounded. This imprecise method often led to many versions. Mallon, O'Mallon, O'Malin, O'Mellan, Malin, Mellan and many more.

Early Notables of the Mellent family

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

Migration of the Mellent family

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the Mellent family relocated to North American shores quite early: Edward, James, Patrick, William Malin, who all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860; Michael, and Richard Mallen arrived in Philadelphia in 1834.



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