Melard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Melard

What does the name Melard mean?

The name Melard is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It is a name for someone who worked as a miller or the keeper of a mill. The surname Melard is derived from the Old English word mylenweard. This name is common in the southern and western counties; elsewhere, the form Milner predominates. The "mill-ward" was the keeper of the mill having derived from the Middle English words "melle, mulle, and mulne." 1 2

Early Origins of the Melard family

The surname Melard was first found in Derbyshire where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Melard family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Melard research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1430, 1488 and 1502 are included under the topic Early Melard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Melard Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Melard are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Melard include: Milward, Milwood and others.

Early Notables of the Melard family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Melard Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Melard family to Ireland

Some of the Melard 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.

Melard migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Melard or a variant listed above:

Melard Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Martin Melard, who arrived in New York in 1850 3

Sources +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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)