The name Mellfard has a long
Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a family 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 Mellfard 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 Mellfard family
The surname Mellfard 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 Mellfard family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mellfard research.
Another 167 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1292, 1379, 1618, 1644, 1725 and 1704 are included under the topic Early Mellfard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Mellfard Spelling Variations
Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few
hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Mellfard have been found, including Milforde, Milford, Millford, Millforde, Melford and many more.
Early Notables of the Mellfard family (pre 1700)
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 Mellfard Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Mellfard family to Ireland
Some of the Mellfard 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 Mellfard family to the New World and Oceana
Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in
England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in
England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Mellfard, or a variant listed above: 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.