The surname Mellis is a name that was carried to
England in the great wave of migration from
Normandy following the
Norman Conquest of 1066. The Mellis family lived in Melhuish in
Devon. The surname Mellis is a habitation name that was originally derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. The surname originated as a means of identifying individuals from a particular area. In the Middle Ages people often assumed the name of the place that they originally lived as their surname during the course of travel.
Early Origins of the Mellis family
The surname Mellis was first found in
Devon where they held a
family seat from ancient times as Lords of the Manor of Melhuish in that shire, some say, well before the
Norman Conquest of
England in 1066 A.D. The original name of the village was Melewis. Conjecturally the family name is descended from Hugh of Rennes, holder of the village of Melhuish from Baldwin, Sheriff of
Devon at the time of the taking of the
Domesday Book Survey in 1086 A.D.
Early History of the Mellis family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mellis research.
Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1350, 1527, and 1643 are included under the topic Early Mellis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Mellis Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Mellish, Mellise, Melersh, Mellersh, Melluish, Melish, Mellersh, Mellis, Melliss, Meliss, Melles, Meles, Malis, Malise and many more.
Early Notables of the Mellis family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Mellis Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Mellis family to the New World and Oceana
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Mellis Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
- A Mellis, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907
Mellis Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Alexander Mellis, aged 28, a blacksmith, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Helenslee" in 1864
- Magdaline Mellis, aged 27, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Helenslee" in 1864
- William Mellis, aged 3, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Helenslee" in 1864
- Alexander Mellis, aged 1, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Helenslee" in 1864